Joanna Jepson

The reasons given for the termination were associated with the fetus having a cleft lip and palate – grounds which Jepson argued did not constitute "a serious handicap" under the terms of the 1967 UK Abortion Act.

The process was highly traumatic and involved Intensive Care treatment in hospital, a lengthy period of swelling, and having her jaw wired.

[2] Jepson believes that this gave her an insight into human nature – she was bullied because of her appearance at school, but became part of "the pretty, popular crowd"[2] at university, after her reconstructive surgery.

Her feelings about this change, as well as those brought up by the attitudes of other people she met after surgery,[2] influenced her interest in a much-publicised trial following the abortion of a fetus in December 2001.

[2] The result of the legal challenge was that Jepson's complaint was not upheld, the Crown Prosecution Service stating that the doctors involved acted in good faith and would not face criminal charges.

[1] A ProLife Alliance spokesperson expressed concern at the verdict, commenting on the "eugenic mentality in medicine in the UK".

[2] She also expressed her difficulty dealing with the fact that pregnant mothers in the UK are screened for Down syndrome – a condition which Jepson's brother has.

Jepson expressed a desire to raise the profile of the issues associated with the case, and to see a tightening of the law so that "abortions do not take place for trivial reasons and women are not traumatised".

[2] From 2001 to 2003, Jepson trained for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an evangelical Anglican theological college.