Down’s syndrome case fails but appeal is announced

A legal claim that the right to abort a baby with Down’s Syndrome up to birth in England and Wales is discriminatory has been rejected by the High Court.

The judicial review was brought by campaigners Heidi Crowther, who has Down’s Syndrome, and Maire Lea-Wilson whose 2-year-old son also has Down’s, against the health secretary.

It was argued that section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act 1967 is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), including the right to life (Article 2), the right to respect for private life (Article 8) and the right to freedom from discrimination (Article 14).