March 8, 2016 (SPUC) — Katie Price, the glamour model has admitted that she would probably have aborted her son Harvey if she had known about his disabilities before he was born.
The mother-of-five went on to say that she is glad she chose life for her son, and that his life has now changed her attitude towards disabled people. She added that she would also now consider adopting a child with disabilities.
Ms Price was on a daytime television programme discussing the realities of living with a disabled child when she made the comments, which have generated discussion online.
Her honesty has led many to see her comments as another indicator of the pressure that pregnant mothers come under in a society that stigmatises people with disabilities.
In the UK, abortion is legally permitted through all nine months of pregnancy if the baby is suspected to have a disability. 92% of children prenatally diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome are aborted.
Ms Price told the daytime television programme (video below):
“I was young when I had Harvey and I admit it: If I'd have known he was blind when I had him, as harsh as it sounds, I probably would have aborted him … Now if they said I was going to have a child with disabilities, I would definitely keep it. I would even adopt a child with disabilities … I absolutely love Harvey so much. I would never change anything about him … Yes it’s challenging, but it’s also rewarding. He's a great character and I love him. I don't think anyone should be ashamed at all if they've got a child with disabilities.”
In response, SPUC's Rhoslyn Thomas told LBC Radio:
“Katie Price really shows by her reaction before she had Harvey and afterwards that we can't base people's right to life – and the right to life of unborn children, be they disabled or not – on our feelings. Rather, they have an inherent right to life. Her reaction shows that, if she had aborted him when she was afraid, if she had known that he was disabled before he was born, she would have made a huge mistake and actually taken away his right to life.
“Afterwards she realised that, as she said, there are lots of struggles with children with disabilities but also lots of rewards. She would have lost out on that and deprived him of his life, the only life he will ever have.”
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Following online criticism, Ms Price has since taken to Twitter to defend her comments, saying, “Harvey is my life and I am so proud of him”.
Reprinted with permission from Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.