Michael Clancy - Biography

As a veteran photojournalist in Nashville, TN, Michael Clancy was hired by USA Today newspaper to photograph a spina bifida corrective surgical procedure. It was to be performed on a twenty-one week old fetus in utero at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At that time, in 1999, twenty-one weeks in utero was the earliest that the surgical team would consider for surgery.

As a doctor asked Clancy what speed of film he was using, out of the corner of his eye he saw the uterus shake, but no one's hands were near it. It was shaking from within. Suddenly, an entire arm thrust out of the opening, then pulled back until just a little hand was showing.

The doctor reached over and lifted the hand, which reacted and squeezed the doctor's finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shook the tiny fist. Samuel held firm. Clancy snapped his photos and little did he know that one of the photos just would be seen around the world and bring question to the sanctity of life and partial birth abortion.