McCain ties may upset abortion foes

John McCain’s wife has held ownership interests in two Arizona medical buildings that rent space to companies involved in the destruction of human embryos found to have genetic defects — a practice some anti-abortion activists say amounts to the taking of human life.

McCain’s financial disclosure forms show that Cindy McCain has invested more than $65,000 in Estrella Medical Plaza I. Estrella rents space to Arizona Reproductive Medicine Specialists and Sonora Quest Laboratories. Dr. Kimball Pomeroy of ARMS said that if his firm discovers that an embryo was affected by a serious disease, “in most cases, it would be discarded.” A brochure for Sonora Quest says that “if a birth defect is found, your doctor or a genetic counselor will help you make decisions in the best interest of you, your family and your baby.”


McCain’s disclosure forms also show that, until recently, Cindy McCain had at least a $100,000 investment in Princess Medical Center, which rents to Arizona Associates for Reproductive Health. An AARH employee confirmed that the firm discards embryos if its clients ask it do so.

John McCain has said that he believes human life begins at conception, and some of his supporters contend that the disposal of embryos involves the destruction of human life. “We oppose testing and diagnosis of abnormalities and disabilities when the purpose is to eliminate those with abnormalities,” said Jessica Rodgers, a spokeswoman for the anti-abortion group National Right to Life.

A senior McCain aide said that Cindy McCain is not involved in deciding who rents space in the two buildings and was unaware that genetic testing and counseling firms were among the tenants.

“I think you’re making too much of a link there,” the aide said. “Cindy’s an investor in a partnership that owns the buildings. She’s a landlord. She has no financial control over the tenants in the building, and certainly she is not aware of who the tenants are. She’s just one part of a partnership that invests in these buildings. She’s not connected to the firms that are in question.”