“How can an act that suppresses an innocent and helpless life that is germinating be therapeutic, civil or even simply human? “

by Henrianne DE PONTBRIAND | 26 Oct, 2018 | Bioethics press synthesis | Abortion - Medical termination of Pregnancy(MTP)

During the general audience on Wednesday, 10 October, Pope Francis “did not mince his words on abortion”. He discussed the subject by reflecting on the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”: “How can an act that suppresses an innocent and...

CRISPR: new studies financed by the NIH

by Henrianne DE PONTBRIAND | 26 Oct, 2018 | Bioethics press synthesis | Genome

As CRISPR human trials are just getting off the ground (see Genome printing: what is the status of human treatment projects?), the NIH[1] is set to finance a study assessing the safety of genome printing in human cells and tissues. The team, led by Professor Todd...

Contraceptive implant migrates to the lungs and becomes life-threatening

by Henrianne DE PONTBRIAND | 26 Oct, 2018 | Bioethics press synthesis | Abortion - Medical termination of Pregnancy(MTP)

A contraceptive implant migrated from the arm to the lungs. For this young woman from Franche-Comté, the implant was a “modern” method of contraception that she had used since 2014. After three years, the device no longer releases any contraceptive. On...

Medically assisted reproduction for all women: “Anthropology can’t be changed by decree”

by Henrianne DE PONTBRIAND | 26 Oct, 2018 | Bioethics press synthesis | MAP – Surrogacy

Whilst there is an overwhelming “frenzy of regulations and controls authorising everyone to be everyone else’s doctor, priest or nutritionist”, Elisabeth Lévy is surprised by the fact that, nevertheless, there is “one area of human existence...

Paralysed in left arm at the age of 20 following removal of contraceptive implant

by Henrianne DE PONTBRIAND | 26 Oct, 2018 | Bioethics press synthesis | Abortion - Medical termination of Pregnancy(MTP)

Priscilla aged 20 has been paralysed in her left arm since her contraceptive implant was removed. “We don’t know who or what to blame—the implant or the gynaecologist”, explains the young woman who is pressing charges for accidental injury against...

“Third hand” kidney transplanted in Taiwan

by Henrianne DE PONTBRIAND | 26 Oct, 2018 | Bioethics press synthesis | Organ donation

Taiwanese surgeons have transplanted a kidney donated by a patient who had already undergone transplant surgery. This is known as “domino transplantation”. The operation was performed at the Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan, south-west Taiwan, and...