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An influential bioethicist has said laws which currently allow unborn babies to be aborted on the basis of disability are “incompatible” with the “very basis of a civilised and inclusive society”.
Dr Calum MacKellar, Director of Research for the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, made his comments in light of Heidi Crowter and Máire Lea-Wilson’s upcoming High Court case challenging the law on abortion concerning disability.
In the UK, abortion is permitted up to 24 weeks for most reasons – but is available up to birth for children deemed to have a disability. This has been used to justify abortion for conditions such as Down’s syndrome and cleft palate.