by Collectif | 12 Oct, 2014 | Bioethics press synthesis | End of life
According to the latest official statistics, the number of cases of euthanasia increased by 15% between 2012 and 2013, with 4,829 cases being reported. And this increase has continued since 2009, rising from 13% between 2008 and 2009 to 18% between 2010 and 2011....
by Collectif | 9 Oct, 2014 | Bioethics press synthesis | Prenatal diagnosis
For the first time, a family in New Zealand has been allowed to create “a saviour sibling” to treat their eldest son who is suffering from a hereditary disease known as “Sickle-cell anaemia “. The mother is in her thirteenth week of pregnancy....
by Collectif | 9 Oct, 2014 | Bioethics press synthesis | Abortion - Medical termination of Pregnancy(MTP)
In Switzerland, according to the statistics issued by the Vaud Canton and the CHUV (Vaud University Hospital Centre), Down syndrome-related abortions are sharply rising: almost 90% of women terminate their pregnancy. From 4 in every 10,000 births in 1989, the number...
by Collectif | 9 Oct, 2014 | Bioethics press synthesis | Embryo research and alternatives
Scientists at the Immunology and Oncology Research Institute (IORI) at the University of Montreal have just announced the discovery of a new molecule that can multiply stem cells in one unit of umbilical blood. This molecule is UM171. According to Dr. Guy...
by Collectif | 9 Oct, 2014 | Bioethics press synthesis | Prenatal diagnosis
The Swiss Science Commission unanimously recommended the adoption of a State Council(1) motion aimed at toughening up legislation relating to premature prenatal analyses to ban gender-related abortions (Gènéthique press review on September 17th, 2014). ...
by Collectif | 8 Oct, 2014 | Bioethics press synthesis | MAP – Surrogacy
The Belgian website, levif.be, is focusing on a new technique presented by its team of designers as an “alternative to freezing oocytes to counteract the effects of age-related infertility”. But the announcement has raised a number of questions in Belgium:...