Search
Texas wants to introduce routine funerals following an abortion or miscarriage in hospital
The Republican State of Texas wants to make women who have an abortion or miscarriage at hospital bury the foetus, regardless of the stage of pregnancy. The measure should become effective before the end of this year if there is no legal opposition. Since 2011,...
Scientists test a new gene editing technique in vivo to correct one form of anaemia
Scientists at Yale University have developed a new in-vivo gene editing technique to correct mutations that cause beta thalassaemia - a form of anaemia that reduces haemoglobin production. This technology was previously limited to in-vitro cell culture studies. ...
Death of the fifth Carmat heart transplant patient: implants are suspended
The fifth patient to receive an artificial heart produced by the Carmat Company died at the end of October. He underwent surgery in Nantes, approximately six weeks before his death, and was the first person to receive this artificial heart as part of a second series...
“Three parent IVF” tests on the verge of being authorised in the United Kingdom despite the inefficacy of the technique
The United Kingdom could soon become the first country to authorise the birth of children conceived using the "three-parent IVF" technique, despite continuing concerns regarding its inefficacy. On 30 November, the HFEA[1] explained that, after 20 years...
American rapper denounces “modern eugenics” practised by the Family Planning Association
Famous American rapper, Nick Cannon, has accused Planned Parenthood, the American Family Planning Association, of organising the "genocide" of the Afro-American population through abortion. Denouncing "modern eugenics", the music star has confirmed that the...
In Brazil, “it’s not a crime” to abort during the first trimester of pregnancy
In a decree that could make jurisprudence, the Brazilian Supreme Court has decided that, "it is not a crime to abort during the first trimester of pregnancy". In Brazil, abortion is generally considered to be a crime and can carry a prison sentence of up to three...
Hacked cardiac implants: millions of wearers affected
Several scientific studies have revealed that pacemakers, insulin pumps and cerebral implants can be easily hacked with dangerous consequences. This is bad news indeed for millions of people with cardiac implants around the globe. Anne Canteaut, Research...
Posthumous sperm retrieval authorised in Israel
Following a long legal battle, a 50 year-old Israeli couple have been granted permission to posthumously retrieve the sperm of their son who died in a car accident at the age of 25. They wanted to "give" him a child because he was keen to "have a family". In...
The Netherlands: euthanasia authorised for an alcoholic
The Netherlands declared its position on the right to die around fourteen years ago. The law of 12 April 2001 decriminalised active euthanasia and assisted suicide. The country didn't stop there. It has just granted access to euthanasia for a forty year-old male...
Cambodia: surrogacy amnesty offered
Cambodia has offered amnesty to Australians who have paid for surrogacy services. They can collect their babies without fear of being arrested. This announcement was made following the arrest of an Australian nurse in Phnom Penh, accused of working for a surrogacy...
A baby boy is born following an ovary transplant
For the first time at the CHU Toulouse (University Medical Centre), a baby boy has been born following an ovary transplant. In 2009, whilst battling neck cancer, a young woman agreed to have her ovarian tissue preserved. Part of her ovary was frozen in an attempt to...
The first human head transplant scheduled for 2017
Two neurosurgeons, Sergio Canavero and Ren Xiaping, are planning on carrying out the first human head transplant in 2017. Valery Spiridonov, a young Russian man in his thirties, has volunteered to have the transplant. He suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman's disease - a...