British Girl with Disabilities Will Not Receive Compensation after Mother Drank while Pregnant

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Dec 05, 2014

British Girl with Disabilities Will Not Receive Compensation after Mother Drank while Pregnant

A court ruled this week that the daughter of a woman who drank large quantities of alcohol during her pregnancy will not receive any compensation.

The seven-year-old daughter has fetal alcohol syndrome and was born with severe brain damage. She in under the care of North West of England.

A council in the North West of England told the court that the mother had poisoned her baby and she was entitled to compensation from the crime.

Reportedly, the mother drank a half of vodka and eight cans of lager daily throughout her pregnancy. She apparently ignored warnings about her drinking.

The three appeal judges said: "The central reason is that we have held that a mother who is pregnant and who drinks to excess despite knowledge of the potential harmful consequence to the child of doing so is not guilty of a criminal offense under our law if her child is subsequently born damaged as a result."

The ruling said that the unborn baby was an “organism” and not a “person.”

Pro-life Conservative MP Fiona Bruce said: “The law is hopelessly unclear on the status of the unborn child, and this judgment makes it even more incoherent. The only loser in this case is the child who has been denied compensation to help with her care costs. I find no cause for rejoicing in that.”

Publication date: December 5, 2014



British Girl with Disabilities Will Not Receive Compensation after Mother Drank while Pregnant