Woman with Down’s mounts legal fight over abortion law

A WOMAN with Down’s syndrome has claimed that she is “better off dead” in the eyes of the law, ahead of launching a landmark legal challenge to the Government’s abortion legislation.

Heidi Crowter has called for a judicial review to change the law which allows parents to terminate pregnancies where the foetus has the condition at any time up until its birth.

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

She said: “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.

“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.” Granting permission for the case to be heard at the High Court, the Honourable Mr Justice Morris said in court documents: “The claim is arguable on all grounds.”

The 25-year-old worked in a hair salon before the pandemic and has married since she first began legal proceedings and is now known as Mrs Carter.

However, she is referred to by her maiden name in court documents.

The case has been brought by Mrs Carter, as well as another person with Down’s syndrome and his mother.

All three claim that the 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” which is enshrined in current legislation.

Commenting on the case proceeding to the High Court, Lord Shinkwin, the Conservative Life Peer, said: “At a time of astronomical national debt, I cannot believe that Matt Hancock is seriously considering wasting taxpayers’ money defending this case.”