Senior UK lawmen have been urged to intervene following a court decision which allows medics to perform an abortion on a vulnerable woman with learning difficulties without her consent.

Letters have been sent by the country’s leading pro-life organisation in the wake of the disturbing case.

Calling for action, John Smeaton, chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, the world's longest established pro-life organisation says:

"I and my members have been utterly astonished and bereft by this decision which involves an unidentified woman in her 20s."

The letters have been sent to  The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP,

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; The Lord Chief Justice, The Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon; and the President of the Court of Protection, Sir James Munby.

In his letter Mr Smeaton states: 

"You will undoubtedly be aware of the recent distressing case involving The Court of Protection in London where Mr Justice Williams ruled that UK doctors be permitted to perform a surgical abortion on a woman with learning difficulties without her consent.

I am writing to you as the chief executive of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, the world's longest established pro-life organisation.

"The court was told that the lady has the ‘mental capacity of a toddler’ and is believed to be 12 weeks pregnant. 

"The judge ordered a surgical abortion to be performed on the woman later this week, after hospital bosses urged the court to authorize the termination.

"I would urge that you use your influence to intervene in this case.

"If ever justice has been required in our country it must surely apply in this case.

"No consideration appears to have been given to the prospect of allowing this lady to carry her baby full term with the possibility of having the child adopted after birth.

"Life is precious. That is why my organisation exists.

"Surely, this lady’s unborn baby deserves the right to life?

"Police are investigating whether the woman’s pregnancy was caused by an act of sexual assault.

"Meanwhile, in his ruling, Mr Justice Williams stated that medics can physically restrain the vulnerable woman, if necessary,  in order to administer a general anesthetic and perform the abortion.

"I must inform you that SPUC regards this case an outrage and an abomination in what is supposed to be considered a civilised society.

"Every right-minded person will find the ruling incomprehensible.

It is not an over-reaction to consider such a level of cruelty and barbarity reminiscent of how people with mental health issues were treated in the 1930s of Nazi Germany. 

"To force abortion on any person is abhorrent and to do so in the name of medicine calls into question the structures of law and justice in our society.

"This forced abortion case has occurred only months after a UK judge attempted to subject a 22-week pregnant woman to an abortion against her will.

"You will recall that in June 2019, Judge Justice Lieven ordered doctors to carry out a late term abortion on a woman with learning difficulties, despite admitting it was against the woman’s will. The decision was later overturned by the Court of Appeal following a massive public outcry.

"When the case of forced abortion was overturned in June, SPUC raised serious questions regarding how such an inhumane ruling was ever made, and sought reassurance that it will never happen again.

"Astonishingly, less than 5 months later another similar ruling has been made.  "What we are witnessing is the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable women with learning difficulties. Performing an abortion on any woman without consent is abuse of the worst kind imaginable. 

"A woman understood to have the mental capacity of a toddler cannot consent to sex. ?A forced abortion compounds the grotesque abuse this vulnerable woman has already suffered.

"We must demand answers as to how this vulnerable woman was ever placed in this situation and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

"And we also demand justice for her innocent unborn child who now faces a death sentence at the hands of the so-called justice system which you oversee.

"I look forward to your early response."

Contact us

For more information, contact 

John Smeaton

Chief Executive

Society for the Protection of Unborn Children

Tel: +44 (0)20 7820 3128

Mobile: +44 (0)7885 914344