Bruises found on dead adopted Russian tot, Texas officals say

ODESSA, Texas Authorities in West Texas say a 3-year-old boy adopted from Russia had several bruises on his body and was unresponsive when he was brought into a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Russian authorities have blamed the Jan. 21 death of Max Shatto on "inhuman treatment" at the hands of his adoptive American family. An autopsy is pending.

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Shirley Standefer, chief investigator for the Ector County Medical Examiner's office, says there were signs of bruising on Max's body, including in the lower abdominal area. But she said she could not comment on whether those bruises appeared to be intentional or accidental.

The case has gotten international attention in the wake of a recent Russian ban on all American adoptions. Russia said the ban is in retaliation for a new U.S. law targeting alleged Russian human-rights violators. The ban also reflects lingering resentment over the 60,000 Russian children adopted by Americans in the past two decades, of which at least 19 have died.

Russian Foreign Ministry official Konstantin Dolgov said in a statement that the boy's death was "yet another case of inhuman treatment of a Russian child adopted by American parents."

[Dusty714]

My husband and I did adopt from another country for many reasons. At the time I adopted, I could only adopt a special needs child and knowing ourselves, it takes a very special person to adopt a special needs child. I know this because my parents were foster parents of special needs children.
I live in a predominately African American county and the county would not let us adopt an African American child at that time, things have changed. It was actually cheaper and shorter waiting time to go to another country to adopt than to go private adoption, which was our next step. There are many reasons people adopt and most are very personal. I can tell you now, that most do not choose to adopt from a foreign country first. Sometimes there are just not other choices. Unless you have gone through the process and taking classes on adoption, please don't condemn.
Yes, we had to take class and they talked about the many aspects of adoption and where (domestic and foreign) and how to adopt. Domestic adoption is not always feasible for everyone especially since most are special needs children.
My son is now almost 23 years old, a college graduate, heading to grad school, working with the homeless as a social worker. I think because of his upbringing and knowing he comes from a country that he would probably be on the street, and maybe an alcoholic, he chose this career. Please don't bash people who adopt from other countries, there are reasons and most of the children grow up to meaning members of societies.

[AttyFAM]

Fair enough comment. I just note that you were debarred from adopting an African-American child in the past because of racism, not yours, but the government's. But these days the government is no longer a barrier to interracial adoption in America, and many minority babies go unadopted while adopting parents seek children overseas.

[antoniof123]

What can anyone say a child is dead and now people are saying this is Russia fault or this is America's fault how about this:

A CHILD IS DEAD, SAD VERY SAD!

[AttyFAM]

To the Russian Foreign Ministry -

Your statement makes as much sense as if the US State Department banned travel to Russia because one American tourist was killed by a Russian.

Really, I expect some minimum level of intelligence from a diplomat. I expect - maybe - diplomacy, not idiocy.