Has anyone with PBC been through the Adoption process?

[Bunns]

My husband and I are 8 months into the adoption process and following our medicals, my PBC has been highlighted as an issue. I advised them of my condition at the beginning and it was not a problem, but now it appears it is. Has anyone with PBC been through this, i am currently looking to appeal. My background is I am 42 and was diagnosed with PBC 8 years ago, by chance through a random blood test. I have been on Ursofalk 3 times a day for a couple of years. I would not know I had PBC as I have no symptoms and am in full time employment.

Any advice or similar issues would be good to know about please!

[Hidden]

i have wanted more children (i am lucky enough to have one) for years and years, and unfortunately was not lucky. I would have liked to have considered adoption, but as i have scleroderma as well did not even go down that route, i knew they would turn me down (despite having fertility treatment and the medical profession not seeing it as an issue!) I felt that after years of grieving for more children that i could not have, i could not bear the heartache of going through this and getting turned away. I wish you loads of luck.

[Bunns in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thank you for replying, it seems that the social worker can't be bothered to take our application any further which after 8 months with no negatives is quite hard to take. Anyway we will go elsewhere if we have to, so thanks for the luck, I think we're going to need it!

[littlemo]

Sorry dont know about that but would imagine that you could take them up for discrimination as people with pbc can live very long and productive lives and more likely to die with pbc from another cause rather than the pbc be threatening to life. Contact Citizens Advice and getyour dr and hepatologist to write medical reports to back you up for consideration to be adoption parents.

[Bunns in reply to littlemo]

Thank you, I have asked my consultant to write to them as I was surprised they didn't ask his opinion. He has been very supportive, but they don't seem to want to listen. Looks like we will have to go to the appeal process or look at other agencies.

[crundalite]

Hello. I am a vluntary independent member of an adoption panel. I have seen many applicants acccepted with conditions or lifestyles that could induce serious illness at some stage-extreme obesity for example- but have never come across anyone with PBC applying. I find it difficult to understand why you should be turned down on the basis of PBC unless you are in a very advanced stage-which does not appear to be the case. Your life expectancy is probably as great as anyone elses. I am sure your GP/Consultant would write in support of your application if you approached him/her. Incidentally I was diagnosed in 1994, have been on Urso ever since, and led a full working life in a demanding job untill retirement at the age of 60. My life is now so busy I don't know how I found time to work! Good luck!

[Bunns in reply to crundalite]

Thank you, that is very interesting to hear from you as you have experience of the adoption panel. If only we could get that far, they may be more understanding, but we can't seem to get past the social worker. Maybe we need to start again with another agency and hope for a fair review there, doesn't seem fair though.

Thanks again.

[crundalite]

It all sounds very unusual to me -I don't think that you can be discriminated against on the grounds of PBC. Discusss this aspect with your social worker and , in writing, request an explanation. Good luck again.