Lady with Downs Syndrome launches action against abortion

A lady with Down's syndrome is launching a landmark legal challenge to the Government's abortion legislation claiming she is "better off dead" in the eyes of the law.

 

25-year-old Heidi Crowter, who has married since she first began legal proceedings and is now known as Mrs Carter, has called for a judicial review of current laws saying, "The current law is unfair. It makes me feel like I shouldn't exist, and that I'd be better off dead in the eyes of the law." A woman with Down's syndrome who is launching a landmark legal challenge to the Government's abortion legislation has claimed that she is "better off dead" in the eyes of the law.

 

Mrs Carter, who is referred to by her maiden name in court documents, continued to state, "The policy basically says that it's normal for a baby with Down's syndrome to be terminated up until birth. The reason why this is important to me is because I have Down's syndrome, and my husband has it."

 

After months of campaigning she has been given the green light by the High Court for her challenge against the Health Secretary Matt Hancock to be heard on the grounds of discrimination against disabled people.

 

The Honourable Mr Justice Morris said in court documents, "The claim is arguable on all grounds."  Permission was granted for the case to be heard at the High Court.

 

The matter has been brought by another person with Down's syndrome and his mother, as well as Mrs Carter. All three claimants say that the current law amounts to a breach of their human rights and that the Health Secretary, "has not sought to justify the discriminatory treatment of disabled foetuses" under current legislation.

 

The Conservative Life Peer, Lord Shinkwin, said, "At a time of astronomical national debt, I cannot believe that Matt Hancock is seriously considering wasting taxpayers' money defending this case."

 

 

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