24th Sep 2008
A mother was jailed for life today after drowning her 4 year-old daughter. She was embarrased that her daughter had cerebral palsy and after failing to convince her husband to allow her to be adopted, she chose to end her daughter’s life.
Although the cerebral palsy was only mild – her daughter walked with the aid of leg braces – the mother had clearly never managed to get over the stigma of the condition.
The husband has branded his wife as “evil”, but the woman suffered severe post-natal depression, and was evidently unable to accept her daughter’s condition from the beginning.
Despite the tragedy of the story, one has to ask how much responsibility our society carries. In the UK it is legal to abort an unborn child right up until just before birth, if it is found to have a serious handicap. The message is clear – disabled children can be weeded out before they enter the world. Indeed many parents feel they are pressurised by healthcare staff to abort their child if it has abnormalities.
When our ‘healthcare’ system permits, and often encourages, the killing of unborn disabled children up to birth (‘healthy’ children can only be aborted up to 24 weeks), our society must take some responsibility for this tragedy.
See the article in The Times
October 15th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
What a sad case. We must get the law changed!
January 7th, 2009 at 11:57 am
very sad
January 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
This is terrible. basically the goverment is saying that disabled children are not as good as “normal” Children. I happen to know that Hospitals offer a test for over 30′s that can see if the foetus is going to be born with a disability. I think the test should be scraped and ALL foetus’ should have the same cut-off dates for abortions. the fact that the goverment allows Diabled foetus’ to be aborted any time before birth. is appaling
February 8th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Well the morally bankrupt Labour Government aren`t going to improve the situation for unborn children with imperfections..
David Cameron of the Conservatives personally supports abortion right up to birth where there are certain supected abnormalities..
And the Liberals.. Didn`t they introduce the full legalisation of abortion in 1967?!
February 21st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
I cant explain how this article has horrified me – I had no idea this had happened.
I am 20 years old and have mild right-sided cerebal palsy.
I do not require aids to walk like in this case, but still live with some disabling effects (albeit mild).
I just cant believe that a mother would do such a thing to a child who was in perfect health, aside from a mild disability.
And to think that a disability such as this could be reason enough to abort a child in the UK – the law is disguisting!
On another note though, I understand that the women suffered pnd, so i think it is also a real shame that the mental health services were unable to reach out to her and prevent this terrible tragedy.
March 19th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Simon, it was the Labour who legalised abortion in the 60s, but you’re right in-so-far as the Liberals supported it.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:30 am
“Bill to reduce teen suicide, targeted by euthanasia lobby” … Just a slightly misleading headline for your article!! This gives the impression that those in favour of euthanasia are trying to prevent measures to stop teens from committing suicide from being introduced. This is not the case. The aim of the bill in question is not to reduce teen suicide, but merely clarifies the existing law on suicide and confirms that it does apply to material posted on the internet.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thanks for your comment Caroline, but I disagree with you. It’s accurate to say that the bill which attempts to reduce teen suicide has been targeted by the euthanasia lobby as they have put an amendment down to support assisted suicide as part of this bill.
June 7th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Interesting to read people’s condemnation of others who choose to terminate their pregnancy due to their child being disabled, not handicapped as you suggest in this article. I have a son who has Downe’s Syndrome and although we chose not to terminate I cannot pretend that his condition has been easy on us or his siblings. I agree that the last date for termination should be earlier than the present limit, but it is also every woman’s right to decide on what happens to them. I would hate to see the rise of backstreet abortionists again. How many of the people sitting in judgement of others have a child who is seriously disabled? I thought only God could judge the actions of man, perhaps we should take heed of the murders of doctors in America and back away from all extreme views.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Chris – no one doubts how hard it is to have a child with disabilities, and no one condemns the parents. Society should provide more support for parents in this circumstance, including financial support, support from professional carers and respite care.
However, killing a child after birth is a crime, and the point is that the baby has a right to be protected before birth as well as after birth.
I’m interested by your comment that the last date for termination should be earlier than the present limit. What do you think it should be?
June 16th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
i agree a child with disabilties is precious.i am a practising roman catholic and fell pregnant when i was nineteen to triplets. I went into labour at 26 weeks. joseph was stillborn and john and james were born. after 3 days i lost james.
To cut a long story story short, john is sixteen now with special needs and is very healthy. He was delivered at 25 wks.
Joseph died at 14 wks. Even though he was small enough to fit into a kidney bowl, he was perfect. He had all his fingers and toes. As a catholic we organised for him to be buried in our local cemetry after the full mass.
Believe me if you went through want i went through, there is no way on this earth i would be a selfish creature and in my eyes terminate gods child, no matter how small!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 12th, 2009 at 12:47 am
The whole point is that if somone is in desperate isolation, they will do desperate things. As a disabled man of 38 it saddens me to think people are embarressed by disabled people.
As a practising catholic it is obvious to me that if we have no respect for gods creation before birth, how are we as a society meant to have rspect for any of gods wonderful gifts?