Woman with Down syndrome loses UK abortion law challenge [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SYLVIA HUI

LONDON (AP) — A woman with Down syndrome lost a court challenge against the British government Thursday over a law allowing the abortion up until birth of a fetus with the condition.

Heidi Crowter, 26, and two others took the Department of Health and Social Care to court, arguing that part of the Abortion Act is discriminatory and violates the European Convention on Human Rights.

Abortions in England, Wales and Scotland are allowed up till 24 weeks of pregnancy. But the law states that terminations can be allowed up until birth if there’s “a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.”

Crowter, who lives independently and recently got married, has said that she found the legislation “offensive” and disrespectful. She said she wanted to change the law to challenge people’s perception of Down syndrome.



Campaigner Heidi Crowter looks on after speaking to the media after her court case, outside the High Court in London, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. A woman with Down’s syndrome has lost a court challenge against the British government over a law allowing the abortion up until birth of a foetus with the condition. Heidi Crowter, 26, and two others argued that part of the Abortion Act is discriminatory. Abortions in England, Wales and Scotland are allowed up till 24 weeks of pregnancy, but terminations can be allowed up until birth if there is “a substantial risk" that if the child were born it would suffer from serious abnormalities. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/europe-health-laws-england-scotland-7d9b6fc9d4f5b0b325b4927c4c15cf2f