AS the mother of a child with Down’s syndrome, Sally Phillips has spoken out
about the need for attitudes towards the condition to change.
The actress is outraged about a new screening test that is said to detect
Down’s Syndrome in 99% of pregnancies and is concerned about the effect this
could have in society.
She says that people talk about having a baby with Down’s syndrome as “a
disaster”, but that for her it was the best thing that ever happened.
Sally first shot to fame in Notting Hill, before going on to have a successful
career as a comedian in Bridget Jones’ Diary, Miranda and Green Wing.
However, her latest project is more serious and close to heart than her
previous TV work.
A new as-yet untitled BBC One documentary will see the 45-year-old exploring
the new screening test and law that enables women to terminate a pregnancy
right up until birth if the baby is at high risk of a severe handicap.
In the one-off programme she’ll wade in to the emotionally charged debate and
ask what effect the test – which is said to detect Down’s syndrome in 99% of
pregnancies – might have on society.
Currently the law limits abortions to 24 weeks, except in cases where babies
are at “high risk” of “severe handicap” – these are
possible “up to birth.”
Shockingly, 21 per cent of these abortions are performed on babies suspected
to have Down’s syndrome.
Explaining her outrage, Sally said: “The law is a contravention of at
least two human rights acts we’re already signed up to.
“Now the government are considering rolling out a new test that has
already been in place in the private sector for a few years, and there
terminations have risen by a third.
“We’re worried. Down’s syndrome isn’t a disease, it’s a type of person.
“People who have Down’s syndrome may be different but they are worth no
less than anyone else. We are all human beings. We all count.”
She said people who have Down’s syndrome weren’t consulted at any stage about
the screening and no one on the National Screening Committee who recommended
it represented the Down’s syndrome community.
Sally added: “It is hard to talk to someone who has Down’s syndrome about
whether or not they think they should be allowed equal human rights, so
people don’t. That’s not okay.”
The documentary, produced by Dragonfly, will feature contributions from
experts and supporters on both side of the debate, including both children
and adults living with Down’s syndrome, as well as leading professors in the
field of genetics.
Dragonfly’s executive producer Emma Loach has said: “There couldn’t be a more
important time to explore the complex moral and ethical dilemmas at the
heart of this debate.
“With developments in the pregnancy screening process and continuing
advancements in gene therapy and gene editing, this film sets out to explore
all sides of this contemporary issue.”
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Her own family life means Sally has a vested interest in the scientific
breakthrough.
She’s admitted: “When you’re pregnant, people talk about Down’s as though
it’s the worst thing that could happen.
“And I did think that before I gave birth to my own son, Ollie [11].
“But in lots of ways it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Sally – who is also mum to Luke, eight, and Tom, four – would like to see
Ollie follow in her footsteps.
She said: “[Drama] would be a great job for Ollie because actors are so
accepting, and he might be able to get paid work because TV and film has to
reflect real life.”
The Smack The Pony star has been determined to be a mother before an actress,
so rarely takes jobs that would mean leaving London for a long period of
time.
However, she’s soon back on the silver screen as loud-mouthed Shazza in
Bridget Jones’ Baby.
Excited to be returning to the role, she said: “It was sort of like
seeing old friends and I immediately fell back in to the part.
“Renee [Zellweger, who plays Bridget] doesn’t always come across so well
in interviews because she’s very private, but she’s a gem of a person.”