Out of Tune with Life

With Spring around the corner, annual flowers are beginning to pop out of the ground, birds are singing and neighbors are collecting for the March of Dimes. For many prolife people, the March of Dimes logo, "Saving Babies Together," doesn't capture the spirit of the March of Dimes' work. For the March of Dimes, eliminating those with disabilities more accurately describes the mission – not saving children.

Since January 1976, Right to Life of Michigan has adopted a non-support policy toward the March of Dimes. This policy has been adopted for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the March of Dimes support and promotion for amniocentesis testing of "defective" children during pregnancy. Studies have shown that between 95 percent and 100 percent of "defective" children are aborted after being found to have some genetic abnormality. Another 1 percent of the children are miscarried as a result of the test.

Right to Life of Michigan is also opposed to the March of Dimes because of their recent funding of experiments involving human fetal tissue and embryonic stem cells. Over the years, the March of Dimes has spent thousands of dollars to fund research that necessitates the destruction of innocent human lives.

The March of Dimes is also involved in what they call preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This is the process of screening in-vitro fertilization embryos for various genes and/or diseases before placing them in a woman's womb. Embryos that have the wrong genes are destroyed before implantation. The March of Dimes' 2002 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting on March 14-17, 2002, featured a session where attendees could learn how to expand the use of PGD to more genetic diseases.

In order to fulfill their goal of making sure that "all babies will be born healthy," the March of Dimes has overlooked the children who for certain reasons can't be born healthy. Just because a child cannot be born healthy does not take away their right to life. Some children may not be able to be born with all the right genes or in perfect health, but they still deserve the chance to live regardless of their condition.

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