Ch. 231

1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 231

(Senate Bill 323)                               

AN ACT concerning

Adoption - Access to Medical Records

FOR the purpose of authorizing a court, on petition by an adopted individual, to order
that a court record or adoption agency record that contains needed medical
information be opened without requiring the adopted individual to show a
particular need for the information; authorizing a court to appoint a certain an
intermediary to contact an adopted individual's natural parents for a certain
purpose when the court finds that certain medical information is needed and that
neither the court record or the adoption agency record contain the medical
information; specifying the role and responsibilities of the intermediary; authorizing
a court to assess a certain fee; and generally relating to an adopted individual's
access to certain medical information from the individual's natural parents or
certain records under certain circumstances.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Family Law                                                                                 

Section 5-329

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1991 Replacement Volume and 1992 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Family Law

5-329. -

(a)     (1) (I) On petition by an adopted individual, a court shall order that part
of a court record or adoption agency record containing needed medical information to be
opened to inspection by the individual [if the court finds that the individual needs the
medical information for the health of the individual or a blood relative of the individual].

(II) SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS
SECTION, AN ADOPTED INDIVIDUAL FILING A PETITION UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I)
OF THIS PARAGRAPH MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY PARTICULAR SHOWING
OF NEED FOR THE MEDICAL INFORMATION.

(2) In the case of an adoption agency record, the court may not grant the
petition unless the adoption agency has refused to release the medical information.

(b)     The court may not order opened for inspection any part of a record that
contains any information that reveals the location or identity of the individual's natural
parents.

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