Devastated Doncaster couple whose baby was stillborn launch petition calling for law change
A grieving Doncaster couple whose son was stillborn have launched a petition calling for a change in the law to recognise all miscarriages and children lost in pregnancy to be classed as legal babies.
Diana and Darren Robinson are still coming to terms with the loss of tiny Jenson Thomas who was delivered stillborn on October 23 at 28 weeks.
The pair have launched a petition entitled Jenson’s Law calling for change.
On the petition page, which you can sign HERE, Diana wrote: “I am writing this with a heavy heart, having endured the unimaginable pain of losing my precious son, Jenson, born sleeping at 28 weeks.
"The grief and loss our family experienced were profound, shared by many other parents who find themselves on this painful journey.
"However, if Jenson had been born just two weeks earlier, our experience of his passing would have been classified as a miscarriage, rather than the loss of a baby.
"This legal distinction seems arbitrary and deeply unjust.
"From as early as 10 weeks, plus babies have a beating heart, developed organs, and a functioning brain. To us, they are babies, deserving of recognition and dignity, both in life and in death.
Current laws fail to recognise the loss of babies born before 24 weeks as anything more than miscarriages.
"This legal oversight denies grieving parents the right to acknowledge their child officially, denying them the ability to record their child's death, give them a name, and arrange a funeral.
"These are the vital steps to helping parents reach closure and honour their lost children in a way that acknowledges the baby they carried.
"To create a more compassionate society, we need to amend existing laws to recognise every baby that dies during pregnancy as a recognised soul and humanely document each loss.
"By recording every death officially, assigning a name, and allowing for a burial or funeral, parents can celebrate the short-lived lives of their babies and attain the closure they deserve.
"The call to action is simple yet profound – change the legal framework so that every baby lost during pregnancy is recognised, ensuring that no parent is denied the right to mourn their child openly and meaningfully.
"The precedent for change exists; similar laws have been successfully implemented in parts of Australia and the United States, bringing comfort and recognition to affected families. “Your signature can make a difference. By supporting this petition, you contribute to changing an outdated law, helping to give voice to the silent grief of countless families who have suffered in silence.
"Sign this petition today to recognize every child's life, regardless of how fleeting, and to support the healing of grieving families.”