Woman with Down's syndrome challenges abortion law in the UK High Court

LBC ^ | July 6 | By Kate Buck

[RandFan]

A woman with Down's syndrome is heading to the High Court to challenge legislation which allows abortions up to birth for babies with the condition.

Heidi Crowter, 26, from Coventry, is taking legal action against the Government because she believes the law is "downright discrimination".

Maire Lea-Wilson, 33, an accountant and mother of two from west London whose son Aidan has Down's syndrome, is also bringing the legal challenge, which she hopes will remove "a specific instance of inequality of the law".

In England, Wales and Scotland, there is a general 24-week time limit to have an abortion.

But terminations can be permitted up until birth if there is "a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped", which includes Down's syndrome.

At a two-day High Court hearing, lawyers representing Ms Crowter and Ms Lea-Wilson will argue that the law as it stands is unlawfully discriminatory.

The pair, supported by the campaign group Don't Screen Us Out, are expected to hold a demonstration outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of the first day of the landmark case on Tuesday.

In a statement before the hearing, Ms Crowter said: "The law says that babies shouldn't be aborted up to birth, but if a baby is found to have Down's syndrome it can be aborted up until birth.

"This is the current law in the UK and I think it's not fair.

"People like me are considered to be 'seriously handicapped', but I think using that phrase for a clause in abortion law is so out of date."

[Enduro Guy]

Wow, she is a hero!

[Gene Eric]

During my wife’s first pregnancy, she made it clear there would be no “viability” tests.

[Erik Latranyi]

It is sad that Downs children, who give the most unconditional love, can be discarded like used toilet paper.

But this is how the communists devalue life over time. Today it is fine to murder someone for slight mental issues, tomorrow it is for certain political views.

[No_Mas_Obama]

God Bless this woman. If the judges rule against her, I hope the good patriots of Britain get new judges.

[lucky american]

My brother and sister in law had a baby girl late in her life. The doctors wanted her to get an abortion because they “found” anomalies in the viability tests. My niece is a happy, healthy, beauriful, intelligent, captain of her softball team and now she’s getting a scholarship to college.
So much for viability tests.

[originalbuckeye]

Downs Syndrome children/adults will cost the NHS way more in Health Services. So they are considered a burden on ‘The People’. I wish the American People would open their eyes to the degradation of the culture that Socialism brings.

[millenial4freedom]

God bless her.

[Gene Eric]

Wonderful outcome!