Britain’s Court of Appeal ruled on Friday that legislation allowing abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome until birth does not interfere with the rights of people with the genetic condition.
Current legislation in England, Wales and Scotland limits termination of pregnancy to only the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, but allows abortion up to the time of birth when there is a “substantial risk” that the fetus will suffer a “physical abnormality”. or severe mental illness or disability,” including Down syndrome.
Heidi Crowter, a 27-year-old woman from Coventry, England, who has Down syndrome (or Trisomy 21), and Marie Lea-Wilson, mother of a boy, Aidan, who also has the genetic disorder, sued the British Ministry of Health. considering that the exception is discriminatory.
However, the judges of the Court of Appeal ruled this Friday that the legislation does not interfere with the rights of the “living disabled”.
“This court recognizes that many people with Down syndrome and other disabilities will be upset and offended that this diagnosis of severe disability during pregnancy is viewed by law as a justification for abortion, and that they may view it as implying that their own lives are worth it. less”, said the group of judges.
But, the justices added, “the perception that this is what the law implies is not in itself sufficient to allow interference with Article 8 rights. [à vida privada e familiar, consagrados na Convenção Europeia dos Direitos Humanos]🇧🇷
Last July, attorney Jason Coppell, who represented Crowter and Lea-Wilson, said some people found the language of the law “offensive and unacceptable.”
“It bothers me a lot that fetuses with Down syndrome can be aborted right up to the moment of birth. It tells me that I’m not valued and that I’m worth much less than someone who doesn’t have Down syndrome,” Crowter said, after the announcement of the judgment.
The woman, who does not rule out taking her case to the Supreme Court, the country’s highest judicial body, assured that she will continue to “fight” for this cause, considering that she has already managed to “inform and change hearts and minds.” and change people’s minds about the law.
Source: TSF
