LifeZine No. 591: 15th May 08
Panel of Experts Challenge ICB Report on Embryo Research
The Irish Council for Bioethics (ICB) recently issued an opinion - "Ethical, Scientific and Legal Issues Concerning Stem Cell Research" which recommended that frozen IVF embryos could be destroyed for research to generate human embryonic stem cell lines. The fact that the opinion was unanimous (13-0) - curious, given the diversity of opinion on the topic - might signal to legislators that the recommendations represent a general consensus in the academic and biomedical communities. This is not the case, argued a panel of Irish experts, writing in “The Irish Times”. According to the panel, “We are writing to express our strongest possible dissent from the ICB with regard to destructive research on human embryos. This opinion has no sound ethical, medical or scientific basis.” They added, “We reject the ICB's reasoning in recommending legalisation of destructive human embryo research.” Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Palliative Care Not a Top Priority for Irish Healthcare System
Just 100 out of the 20,000 beds in Ireland's healthcare system are devoted to palliative care. A survey by the National University of Ireland, Galway, (NUIG) which surveyed 300 institutions also found regional variations, and staff working in palliative care without special training. The Health Service Executive (HSE) said it had recently increased funding for palliative care. Speaking at the launch of the report, Dr Ciarán Donegan, chairman of the National Council on Ageing and Older People, said that the study raised questions about the value placed by Irish society on how its older members are supported and cared for at the end of their lives. "The process of dying is reflective of broader social values and the study findings suggest that neglect of end-of-life care for older people is indicative of ageist attitudes in our society", he said. Irish Times. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
UK Law May Change to Allow 'Abortion on Request'
The law in Britain may be changed to allow “abortion on request” by ending the requirement for doctors to give permission for a termination, it has been disclosed. Lord Steel, the architect of Britain’s abortion laws, who has called for a more liberal regime to bring Britain into line with many Continental nations, is backing the change. Under the existing Abortion Act, drawn up in 1967, an abortion can take place only after two doctors formally agree that the procedure is medically necessary. That requirement may become the subject of a Commons vote next month when MPs debate the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which could be used to amend Lord Steel’s 1967 Abortion Act. In arguing for conformity with other European countries, Lord Steel ignores the fact that in most of these states abortion is allowed only up to 12 weeks, compared with 24 weeks in Britain. The Telegraph. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Number of Euthanasia Cases Rise in Netherlands
Legal euthanasia by doctors in the Netherlands is on the increase, new figures show. While just over 1,900 people were killed that way in 2006, more than 2,100 people were euthanised in 2007. In three cases, doctors reportedly breached guidelines. It would seem that these figures refer only to cases of euthanasia by specific and positive intervention. Previous reports have indicated that the largest number of euthanasia deaths occur in less explicit ways, such as increasing existing medication to fatal levels. Dutch News. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Russian Duma Bill Bans Abortion Ads in Media
With the number of abortions in Russia exceeding that of live births, the Russian legislature has introduced a ban on advertisements for abortion. The Duma hopes the abortion ad ban will help change the culture in Russia where women view abortion as a form of birth control. "The document introduces a ban on abortions in any media", deputy chairman of the Duma Health Committee Sergei Kolesnikov said. Kolesnikov said the legislation has an "educational character", aiming to "remind people that the problem exists". LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
United Nations Human Rights Committee Continues Pressuring Poland on Abortion
A United Nations human rights committee continues to pressure Poland to promote abortion. According to a report from the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), the UN Human Rights Council pressurised the Polish government during a meeting in April. According to C-FAM's Maciej Golubiewski, the grilling came during something called the Universal Periodic Review. "At the meeting on April 14th, the Polish delegation was questioned by various members of the committee about Poland's human rights record", Golubiewski said. During the meeting, a Norwegian representative said Poland should "facilitate access to abortion for women who qualify for this under Polish law". C-FAM/LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....