❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the criteria for overweight individuals to become adoptive parents, including the BMI threshold used by the medical review panel and the number of applicants rejected on these grounds in 2002-2003. The response clarifies the BMI threshold and the rationale based on the Adoption Act 1994.
AnsweredQoN 1264Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 March 2003
Member
Portfolio
Community Development, Women's Interests, Seniors and Youth
QuestionView source ↗
(b) what was the definition of overweight used by the medical review panel; (c) what are the main arguments for an ‘overweight’ person to be rejected as a suitable applicant to become an adoptive parent; and (d) how many applicants have been rejected on the grounds of being overweight so far in 2002-2003?
(c) what are the main arguments for an ‘overweight’ person to be rejected as a suitable applicant to become an adoptive parent; and (d) how many applicants have been rejected on the grounds of being overweight so far in 2002-2003?
(d) how many applicants have been rejected on the grounds of being overweight so far in 2002-2003?
(b) The Medical panel uses the internationally recognised scale known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). In general terms the BMI is a figure that is derived from the ratio between the height and weight of a person. The healthy BMI range is 19-25. The Medical Panel is only concerned with applicants who fall into the obese category, which is above 30. The Panel adds in an extra allowance and therefore only focuses on those applicants where the BMI is over 35. (c) The Adoption Act 1994 requires that evidence be obtained that the applicant is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age. Section 40(2) states, "For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant's suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant-… is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age." It is generally accepted that a person with a BMI in the range of 30 – 40 has twice the chance of premature death compared with a person of similar age who has a BMI of 20 – 24.9. In addition obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes and certain types of cancers. Those people classed medically as obese have a greater risk of not being able to raise a child to adulthood and a significantly greater risk of suffering health problems which may adversely affect family life. The medical panel makes a recommendation on the applicant's medical suitability to adopt. The Adoption Application Committee makes a decision on an applicant's suitability to adopt based on a number of factors contained in the assessment report, of which medical suitability is one. (d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
(c) The Adoption Act 1994 requires that evidence be obtained that the applicant is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age. Section 40(2) states, "For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant's suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant-… is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age." It is generally accepted that a person with a BMI in the range of 30 – 40 has twice the chance of premature death compared with a person of similar age who has a BMI of 20 – 24.9. In addition obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes and certain types of cancers. Those people classed medically as obese have a greater risk of not being able to raise a child to adulthood and a significantly greater risk of suffering health problems which may adversely affect family life. The medical panel makes a recommendation on the applicant's medical suitability to adopt. The Adoption Application Committee makes a decision on an applicant's suitability to adopt based on a number of factors contained in the assessment report, of which medical suitability is one. (d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
(d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
(c) what are the main arguments for an ‘overweight’ person to be rejected as a suitable applicant to become an adoptive parent; and (d) how many applicants have been rejected on the grounds of being overweight so far in 2002-2003?
(d) how many applicants have been rejected on the grounds of being overweight so far in 2002-2003?
(b) The Medical panel uses the internationally recognised scale known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). In general terms the BMI is a figure that is derived from the ratio between the height and weight of a person. The healthy BMI range is 19-25. The Medical Panel is only concerned with applicants who fall into the obese category, which is above 30. The Panel adds in an extra allowance and therefore only focuses on those applicants where the BMI is over 35. (c) The Adoption Act 1994 requires that evidence be obtained that the applicant is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age. Section 40(2) states, "For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant's suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant-… is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age." It is generally accepted that a person with a BMI in the range of 30 – 40 has twice the chance of premature death compared with a person of similar age who has a BMI of 20 – 24.9. In addition obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes and certain types of cancers. Those people classed medically as obese have a greater risk of not being able to raise a child to adulthood and a significantly greater risk of suffering health problems which may adversely affect family life. The medical panel makes a recommendation on the applicant's medical suitability to adopt. The Adoption Application Committee makes a decision on an applicant's suitability to adopt based on a number of factors contained in the assessment report, of which medical suitability is one. (d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
(c) The Adoption Act 1994 requires that evidence be obtained that the applicant is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age. Section 40(2) states, "For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant's suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant-… is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age." It is generally accepted that a person with a BMI in the range of 30 – 40 has twice the chance of premature death compared with a person of similar age who has a BMI of 20 – 24.9. In addition obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes and certain types of cancers. Those people classed medically as obese have a greater risk of not being able to raise a child to adulthood and a significantly greater risk of suffering health problems which may adversely affect family life. The medical panel makes a recommendation on the applicant's medical suitability to adopt. The Adoption Application Committee makes a decision on an applicant's suitability to adopt based on a number of factors contained in the assessment report, of which medical suitability is one. (d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
(d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Community Development, Women's Interests, Seniors and Youth
Response time
49 days
(a) Medical assessments included such conditions as:
Past history of cancer
Bipolar disorder, depression
Gynaecological malignancies.
Hepatitis C.
Past history of Ewings sarcoma.
However, of these 5 were subsequently found fit to adopt, 1 withdrew, 1 was invited to resubmit medical information at a later date.
(b) The Medical panel uses the internationally recognised scale known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). In general terms the BMI is a figure that is derived from the ratio between the height and weight of a person. The healthy BMI range is 19-25. The Medical Panel is only concerned with applicants who fall into the obese category, which is above 30. The Panel adds in an extra allowance and therefore only focuses on those applicants where the BMI is over 35.
(c) The Adoption Act 1994 requires that evidence be obtained that the applicant is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age.
Section 40(2) states, "For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant's suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant-…
is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age."
It is generally accepted that a person with a BMI in the range of 30 – 40 has twice the chance of premature death compared with a person of similar age who has a BMI of 20 – 24.9. In addition obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes and certain types of cancers. Those people classed medically as obese have a greater risk of not being able to raise a child to adulthood and a significantly greater risk of suffering health problems which may adversely affect family life.
The medical panel makes a recommendation on the applicant's medical suitability to adopt. The Adoption Application Committee makes a decision on an applicant's suitability to adopt based on a number of factors contained in the assessment report, of which medical suitability is one.
(d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
Past history of cancer
Bipolar disorder, depression
Gynaecological malignancies.
Hepatitis C.
Past history of Ewings sarcoma.
However, of these 5 were subsequently found fit to adopt, 1 withdrew, 1 was invited to resubmit medical information at a later date.
(b) The Medical panel uses the internationally recognised scale known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). In general terms the BMI is a figure that is derived from the ratio between the height and weight of a person. The healthy BMI range is 19-25. The Medical Panel is only concerned with applicants who fall into the obese category, which is above 30. The Panel adds in an extra allowance and therefore only focuses on those applicants where the BMI is over 35.
(c) The Adoption Act 1994 requires that evidence be obtained that the applicant is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age.
Section 40(2) states, "For purposes of the assessment report, each applicant is to provide information as to the applicant's suitability for adoptive parenthood as required by the person so appointed, including evidence that the applicant-…
is physically and mentally able to care for and support a child until the child attains 18 years of age."
It is generally accepted that a person with a BMI in the range of 30 – 40 has twice the chance of premature death compared with a person of similar age who has a BMI of 20 – 24.9. In addition obesity is associated with a number of medical conditions such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, non-insulin dependent diabetes and certain types of cancers. Those people classed medically as obese have a greater risk of not being able to raise a child to adulthood and a significantly greater risk of suffering health problems which may adversely affect family life.
The medical panel makes a recommendation on the applicant's medical suitability to adopt. The Adoption Application Committee makes a decision on an applicant's suitability to adopt based on a number of factors contained in the assessment report, of which medical suitability is one.
(d) Two applicants have been found by the Medical Panel to be medically unfit to adopt. Of these, one has not yet progressed further through the assessment process and one has been assessed but has not yet been considered by the Adoption Application Committee. None have therefore been "rejected" on the grounds of being overweight.
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