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A parent gives a child up for adoption, the child grows up and becomes an adult not knowing their history.

Who's rights are more important here the right of the child that was given up and is now an adult or the privacy of the parent that gave them up?

Should a person not have access to their own birth information because it may cause an undue hardship to the person who gave them up?

"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning; no matter what our attainments in life, there is the most disquieting loneliness."
-- Alex Haley (Roots)

Well now, in a report that was released by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute on Monday it was concluded that the evidence does not support the claim of undue hardship on the biological parents after all.

None of the negative consequences that were predicted in the past by those who did not want the adopted to have this information has come to pass, according to this study.

Among the findings in the report, "For the Records: Restoring a Right to Adult Adoptees," are:

Prohibiting adopted people from getting their personal information raises significant civil rights concerns and potentially serious, negative consequences for their physical and mental health.
In states that now allow access, there has been no evidence that the legal changes have caused problematic behavior by adopted persons or damage to birthmother's lives.
Another assertion by critics of changing these laws - that abortion rates will rise and adoption rates will fall - is not supported by the evidence; in fact, it appears just the opposite occurs.
Based on its research and an analysis of its findings, the Institute's recommendations include:

Every state should amend its laws to restore unrestricted access for adult adopted persons to their original birth certificates - which, historically, had been their right nationwide.
Within three years of enactment, revisit state laws that create a "sandwich" situation in which some adult adopted persons get access to their documents while others do not.
Conduct research to expand the understanding of the experiences of adopted persons, birthparents and adoptive parents in relation to the issue of access to records.

Should someone else have the right to withhold that kind of information from an adult person? To arbitrarily decide you are better off not knowing?