The [UK] Daily Mail follows up its story about Laurence and Chelsea Kirwan, the “world-renowned plastic surgeon and his surgically-enhanced wife” who said they are considering surgery for their daughter to help her be accepted by society. Daughter Ophelia (with Laurence, left) has Down syndrome.

The couple’s comments drew criticism from the UK Down Syndrome Association, which said no one should have to undergo surgery to gain acceptance. Some said the procedures indicated shame about the child’s condition; others said such surgery would be tantamount to child abuse.

Rosa Monckton, wife of former newspaper editor Dominic Lawson and mother of 12-year-old Domenica, said the idea demonstrated “grotesquely skewed values.”

“It is not about how they look, but who they are. First and foremost, they are our children, children to be loved and cherished - not tampered with and altered because they look slightly different,” [said Monckton] …

“The thought of allowing your own child’s face to be cut open in an attempt to make them more ‘acceptable’ to society is appalling.”

Also interviewed were Kim and David Bussey, a couple from South-West London whose daughter Georgia had three surgeries to alter her appearance by the time she was five. Georgia also has Down syndrome. Said Kim Bussey,

“We live in a society that judges people by the way they look. Society is not going to change overnight — so Georgia has to fit into society, rather than society fitting into the way she is.

“The people who criticize us are usually people who don’t have Down’s children of their own. They don’t see the teasing that goes on and the problems Down’s children have. I just want to give Georgia a helping hand — an ‘edge’ to get on in life.”

See earlier post: ‘I am thankful for my son’s face’

This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 5:37 am and is filed under Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED, abuse, families, public attitudes, stereotypes, stigma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post