LifeZine No. 595: 29th May 08
Irish Council for Bioethics Report on Destructive Embryo Research, ‘Ill-Informed’
According to Eamon O’Dwyer, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at NUI Galway, writing in the “Irish Times”, “the recent unanimous opinion of the Irish Council for Bioethics advocating that human embryos be used to generate human embryonic stem cells is most disappointing—not least because it is so ill-informed.” He continued, “Why is it that successes with adult stem cells have been largely ignored while embryonic stem cells, which have never been used successfully to treat a single human person, have been hailed as the ‘gold standard’?" “As the production of embryonic stem cells involves the sacrifice of a human embryo, research on human embryos or their use in the production of embryonic stem cells has to be regarded as an affront to human dignity.” Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Facilities and Care for the Terminally Ill Criticised
A study of hundreds of facilities for dying people in Ireland has criticised the lack of palliative care beds and the lack of privacy for people in their last days. The study, jointly commissioned by the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the Irish Hospice Foundation, found that there are only 108 palliative care beds out of more than 20,000 in the hospitals system, a figure which the report described as "extremely low". It reviewed more than 500 institutions and interviewed 30 people who are nearing death along with 35 health professionals. Dr Ciarán Donegan of the National Council on Ageing and Older People, said that the study raised the question of the value placed by Irish society on how its older members are supported and cared for at the end of their lives. The Irish Times. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
British Doctors Favour Cutting Late-Term Abortions From 24 Weeks to 20
A new poll in the UK finds a majority of doctors say they favour cutting the time limit on late-term abortions. The website Doctors.net.uk conducted the poll and found support among physicians for the campaign to tighten the abortion limits. The survey found 54 percent of doctors want the abortion limit dropped to 20 weeks from the current 24 weeks into pregnancy. Another 15 percent added they would support moving the limit to 22 weeks. Dr. Tom Ringrose, who operates the web site, said, "A majority of doctors clearly want to lower the upper time limit for abortions." Tory MP Nadine Dorries, the MP who is led the recent effort to reduce late-term abortions to 20 weeks said the survey shows strong support for her measure. LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Late Term Aborted Babies in UK Left to 'Gasp for Breath’ Until Death
The “Spectator”, a leading British magazine of political news and commentary, has published excerpts from a letter from a British nurse who, in 2005, described babies surviving late-term abortions who are left to "gasp for breath for ten minutes on the side of a sink" until they die. The nurse, identified only as "Kay", said, "I know of two nurses who went off work with stress as a result of their experience with late terminations. I suffered horrendous nightmares and guilt for months. The guilt comes from the fact that you as a nurse cut the umbilical cord and, as dramatic as it sounds, we felt like murderers." Fr. Tim Finigan, founder of the Association of Priests for the Gospel of Life, added, "So is it OK to allow 'severely disabled' babies to die gasping for breath on the side of a sink?” "I hope the article does indeed make some MPs think about what is going on in our supposedly civilised society but I pray that the presumption 'It's OK if they are disabled' can be seen for what it is." Spectator/Fr Tom Finigan. END.
Poland Embraces Successful March for Life and Family
On the eve of Mother's Day in Poland, Polish citizens and their international guests took part in the third annual March for Life and Family. Several thousand marched through the streets of Warsaw in a joyful affirmation of Judaeo-Christian values. Participants called for recognition of the traditional family and fundamental human right to life for everyone from conception to natural death. Slawomir Olejniczak, co-organizer of the March for Life and Family, reflected on the wave of the culture of death that has swept over Europe and the need to “return to family values”. He said, “The family is the future for Europe. It guarantees stability and development of the whole civilization. Family values should be guaranteed by the state and also by the European Union.” LifeSiteNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Warning—Using a Mobile Phone Can Seriously Damage Your Unborn Baby
The use of mobile telephones (cellphones) in pregnancy raises the likelihood of behavioural problems in offspring, according to a study of 13,000 Danish children. The research—at the universities of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Aarhus, Denmark—is to be published in the July issue of the journal “Epidemiology”. Russian authorities have also warned about radiation from such devices. Independent on Sunday. CLICK TO READ MORE.....