THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507260011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Recent articles concerning the harvesting of organs from babies born with anencephaly have prompted me to share my views.
Please understand that I am not a right-to-lifer nor a bleeding-heart liberal. I recognize that there is an overwhelming need for organs, and I support most efforts to procure them.
However, children born with disabilities deserve the same respect and honor as able-bodied infants.
Somehow, in the quest for medical breakthroughs, we have forgotten what is decent and fair. The issue is not what will make parents feel better or meet the needs of others but what is right for this child!
It doesn't matter if a baby has 6 seconds or 60 years to live. What does matter is that any child born with a disability has value and deserves to be recognized as such.
BRENDA BONDURANT, president
Spina Bifida Association
of Tidewater
Virginia Beach, July 14, 1995 by CNB