Muscular dystrophy

== Society and culture ==
In 1966 in the US and Canada, [[Jerry Lewis]] and the [[Muscular Dystrophy Association]] (MDA) began the annual [[Labor Day]] telecast ''[[The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon|The Jerry Lewis Telethon]]'', significant in raising awareness of muscular dystrophy in North America. Disability rights advocates, however, have criticized the telethon for portraying those living with the disease as deserving pity rather than respect.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Berman |first=Ari |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/163119/end-jerry-lewis-telethon-its-about-time |title=The End of the Jerry Lewis Telethon—It's About Time |journal=The Nation |date=2011-09-02 |access-date=2017-03-14}}</ref>

On December 18, 2001, the [[MD CARE Act]] was signed into law in the US; it amends the [[Public Health Service Act]] to provide research for the various muscular dystrophies. This law also established the [[Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee]] to help focus research efforts through a coherent research strategy.<ref name="govtrack">[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-717 H.R. 717--107th Congress (2001)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219184941/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-717 |date=2012-02-19 }}: MD-CARE Act, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation), (accessed Jul 29, 2007)</ref><ref name="PL107-84">[http://history.nih.gov/01Docs/historical/documents/PL107-84.pdf Public Law 107-84] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107002224/http://history.nih.gov/01Docs/historical/documents/PL107-84.pdf |date=2012-11-07 }}, PDF as retrieved from [[NIH]] website</ref>