Disability Rights UK has condemned Justice Lieven’s ruling attempting to force an abortion on a woman with a learning disability, calling the decision “wholly wrong”.
The disability charity condemned the decision saying it was “in contravention of the UN Convention on the rights of People with Disabilities.”
“In our view, the issue here is to ensure that the woman concerned receives sufficient support to help her with her parenting role.”
This denunciation came during international outcry after an NHS Trust successfully brought a court case against a patient with a learning disability, resulting in the Court of Protection ruling that this woman must have an abortion against her will.
The woman is said to have a “moderately severe” learning disability, leaving her with the mental age of a six to nine year old.
Three Court of Appeal judges since ruled that doctors must not perform an abortion on this woman. The judges said that the circumstances of this case were unique and that their reasons for overturning this decision would be released at a later date.
Clare McCarthy from Right To Life UK said: “Disability Rights UK are absolutely correct to condemn this ruling.”
“This decision made by the judge speaks volumes about the attitudes and ignorance of not only the judge but also the NHS Trust both to people with learning disabilities and children in general.”
“As Disability Rights UK suggest, the response to this woman’s situation should be support, not abortion.”
