Today hundreds of thousands of Americans are gathering to speak out for the most vulnerable among us. Each January we mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and another year of senseless loss of life. For many, this week serves as a reminder that life is a precious and sacred gift, and we must do all we can to protect it.
The question of abortion, sometimes reduced to yet another political issue to debate, is personal for me. My belief in the right to life has influenced my professional career for much longer than my time in Congress. In fact, it’s been a lifetime. In the span of my medical career, I delivered more than 3,000 babies. Not only did I have the joy of seeing these babies when they were delivered, but throughout my career I witnessed great advances in the technology that allows doctors and parents to see these children developing in the womb. For those of us who have watched a baby squirm and kick during a sonogram, there is no question about the sanctity of life.
While my work has changed through the years – I now spend late nights delivering policy rather than babies – my dedication to pro-life medicine remains steadfast.
I admire this annual gathering of pro-life advocates, and I hope a time will come when unborn life is valued and this march is no longer necessary. Until that time, I will remain committed to protecting every unborn child’s right to life, every health care provider’s right to refuse involvement in abortions, and every taxpayer’s right to refuse federal funding of abortions. After a lifetime dedicated to pro-life work, there is no question that it is just the right thing to do.
Until next time, this is your doctor's note.
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
