Prime Minister questioned on screening out people with Down's Syndrome

The Prime Minister has responded to claims that pre-natal screening for pregnant women could lead to an increased number of abortions, on the basis of the unborn child being given a Down's syndrome diagnosis.

Prime Minister David Cameron has responded to claims that pre-natal screening for pregnant women could lead to an increased number of abortions, on the basis of the unborn child being given a Down’s syndrome diagnosis.

A growing number of influential figures have expressed concerns over the Department of Health’s plans to introduce a new screening test for Down’s syndrome which could see an additional 92 children with the condition aborted every year.

What is NIPT testing?

Cell-free DNA testing, more commonly known as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), will allow expectant mothers to undergo a simple blood test to screen their unborn child for Down's syndrome.

Currently women at high risk of having a child with the condition are offered an invasive test in which a needle is inserted into the womb to take a genetic sample. This test carries a small risk of miscarriage.

A five-year study into non-invasive prenatal testing predicted that the procedure could lead to 102 more babies with Down's being detected every year.

The latest figures show that 90% of children who are pre-natally diagnosed with Down's syndrome are aborted, meaning the new test could lead to an additional 92 abortions a year.

'Unintended consequences'

During Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative MP Nigel Evans warned David Cameron that rather than reduce the number of miscarriages the new test will have "the unintended consequence of increasing the number of abortions for those with Down's syndrome".

He went on to challenge the Prime Minister to "look at ways of protecting those with Down's syndrome and ensure that they will not be simply screened out?".

Responding to Mr Evans' challenge the Prime Minister said there are "moral and ethical issues that need to be considered" when screening for Down's syndrome, and that the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is "going to have to find a way through this".

'Look again'

Speaking after the debate Mr Evans said "I do not want to see babies with Down's syndrome being screened out and I would strongly urge the Government to look again at its introduction".

'Terribly upsetting'

Yesterday, Bridget Jones' Diary star Sally Phillips, whose eleven-year-old son Ollie has Down's Syndrome, criticised the new screening technique. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme she said the "arms race for new technologies is terribly upsetting" and "dehumanising" to people with Down's syndrome.

She added that "people with Down's Syndrome have never been included in the debate, they have never been asked".

This follows the revelation from the government in a written parliamentary question that "no assessment was made of the impact of NIPT on the number of abortions" or on the Down's Syndrome community.

Don't Screen Us Out

The Don't Screen Us Out campaign, a coalition of Down's syndrome advocacy groups, are urging Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to delay the implementation of the new test.

The campaign coalition wants a full consultation with the community of people with Down's syndrome and medical reforms have been introduced which provide greater support for parents who have received a pre-natal diagnosis of Down's syndrome.

Visit the Don't Screen Us Out website for more information.