PRESS RELEASE : 14th September 2000 - date of appeal court decision (decision now postponed til Friday 22nd Sept and Court of Appeal in London). Please contact Simone Aspis for an interview : 0208-459-5717 COURTS KILLING CHILDREN A Disabled advocate will be available for interview today at the Court of Appeal in London, speaking up about the case of conjoined twins, Mary and Jodie. Simone Aspis is one of many disabled people who are agonising over the outcome of today’s appeal case and it's implications on our right to life. Simone, a People First member and outspoken advocate for disabled children, will be bringing to light the fear being expressed by some disabled people, that if the UK appeal courts rule to kill Mary based on a prediction of quality of life and health, our own lives and those of disabled people of the future will be under Threat. MURDERING MARY - THE EXCLUDED PERSPECTIVES This is not a dilemma of religion against sense, it is an abuse of right to consent! This is not a dilemma of science against nature, it is denial of Mary's right to life! The case of "Mary and Jodie" the conjoined twins has ominous legal significance for disabled people in the UK. It is supposed to be illegal to kill children here, even if they are disabled. Mary has been de-humanised, compared to a tumour, been publicly labelled a "futile life" and a "damaged speck of life", they say she has a "primitive brain", compared to her "bright and alert" sister. Ownership of organs is clearly shared, though Mary is accused of living at her sisters expense - how did they choose Jodie? The court seem to think cutting off Mary's blood supply might not REALLY be killing her. They have taken the parental right to consent away from a deeply religious family who came to this country for our help. This makes a complete mockery of any Disability Discrimination Act or Human Rights Legislation due to come into force. LIVES MORE IMPORTANT THAN MOST We seem to have heard very little about ways Mary and Jodie could be supported to live. Mary and Jodie are not "futile lives", they are probably two of the most important children to have ever lived. Their outcome will make history and if Mary is killed, it is likely to lead to further lawful killings of others. They could however be a focus for even deeper thinking, and forming finally a precedent which protects the basic human rights of everyone. The life of any person who lives long enough to become disabled may depend on Mary's. The views of disabled people must not be excluded and subjective decisions must not be made based on prejudiced perceptions of "quality of life". It is impossible to accurately predict life span. Lifespan for some depends on healthcare. Good healthcare depends on equal treatment. Disabled people do not receive equal treatment. We do not need to loosen the laws around the basic human rights of disabled people any more, we need to tighten them up! The House of Lords and the Lord Chancellor must intervene and respect the human rights of Disabled people as demanded in the Disabled People International bioethics declaration "The Right To Live and Be Different".
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