Abortion Of Infants With Disabilities

EDM number 2363 in 2005-06, proposed by Claire Curtis-Thomas on 14/06/2006.

That this House notes statements from the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) that people with disabilities regard themselves as `different' and find it offensive to be set aside in the classification of handicapped; further notes that this is reflected in the DRC's opposition to abortion on the grounds of disability which implies that people with disabilities are of lesser worth than others; notes with regret however that the Office of National Statistics reported over 20 late abortions between 1996 and 2004 on the grounds of club foot that is easily corrected by surgery or physiotherapy; further notes that in the same period a further four infants were aborted because they had webbed fingers or extra digits which are also easily correctable; further notes that the bias against infants with mental disabilities is even stronger and that 92 per cent. of cases where Down's Syndrome is detected in the womb result in abortion; further notes with deep regret that a report from the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) states that health professionals often hold outdated or prejudiced views about people with Down's Syndrome and parents are frequently given only negative information despite the fact that people with Down's Syndrome can and do lead fulfilling lives and are of great value to society; and calls on the Government to give greater support to the DSA and similar groups which seek to ensure that appropriate support and accurate information is provided to all parents facing a pre-natal diagnosis of disability in an unborn infant.

This motion has been signed by a total of 66 MPs.