Playing God with children's health

Parents slam government over refusal to test babies

- BY MARTIN BAGOT Health Editor

THE dad of a child with the same muscle wasting disease as pop star Jesy Nelson's twins has criticised the government for not screening all babies for the condition.

The Mirror is campaigning for the UK to join most other developed nations in screening for spinal muscular atrophy with a heel prick test at birth.

Three-year-old Ophelia-May Davies was not diagnosed with SMA until after her second birthday, when she already had irreversible nerve damage meaning she is unlikely to ever walk.

Little Ophelia has Type 2 and her parents have been told her life expectancy could be around 20 years.

Ex-Little Mix singer Jesy's girls Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster have the most severe Type 1 form.