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Italy faces consistency of choice in terms of respect for embryos
The Parillo versus Italy Case, heard on 27 August 2015, which validates, amongst other things, Italy’s ban on the destruction of human embryos on Italian soil has triggered reactions. In fact, the Italian Government bans embryo destruction but authorises the use...
Nepal temporarily suspends surrogacy
Following the recent decision by India and Thailand to strictly limit access to surrogacy, Nepal has become thefavourite destination for families seeking to have children. According to a spokesperson from the Nepalese Supreme Court, “There is currently no...
Authorisation of a new clinical trial based on human embryo stem cells
Israel’s health ministry has authorised the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem to launch a phase I clinical trial using human embryo stem cells (hESC) in an attempt to treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). Scientists want to implant retina cells...
Switzerland: heading towards a PGD referendum?
In June 2015, with 62%, the Swiss nation voted in favour of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD ) (See Gènéthique 15.06.2015) et Gènéthique informs you 09.06.2015). The Swiss Evangelical Party, which spearheads the interparty committee opposing pre-implantation...
Pope Francis calls on priests to forgive abortion
In a letter, now in the public domain, that was sent to the organiser of the “Jubilee of Mercy” to be celebrated between 8 December 2015 and 20 November 2016, the Holy Father announced yesterday that he would grant priests permission to absolve the sin of abortion...
Quebec physicians will be given a guide to medically assisted dying
On 10 September 2015, the Quebec Collège des Médecins will publish its first guide for physicians on the topic of assisted suicide. This publication follows on from draft law 52 adopted by Parliament on 10 June 2014 (See Gènéthique 10.06.2014). In December, Quebec...
CSEh: First results of the clinical trial carried out by Asterias
Californian Company, Asterias Biotherapeutics, has announced the forthcoming publication of encouraging results recorded in its human Embryo Stem Cell (hESC) clinical trial. Asterias took over the trial abandoned by Geron in 2011 which aims to transplant neuronal...
Gregor Puppinck applauds the ruling made by the ECHR, Parrillo versus Italy: « Human embryos are not things”
Gregor Puppinck, director of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) and expert in genetics applauded the ruling given on 27th August, 2015 by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concerning the case of Parrillo versus Italy (cf....
“March for life” will not be obliged to provide health insurance cover including contraception for employees
On Monday, 31 August 2015, for non-religious reasons, the Court of Justice in the District of Columbia declared that the “March for Life” pro-life group is not obliged to provide its employees with health insurance cover including contraceptives within the...
A campaign to boost sperm donation in England
Laura Witjens, Director of the British National Sperm Bank “has announced” that, a year after it was established, this bank[1]has only“nine registered donors”. To resolve this shortage, she has been inspired by Denmark’s recent campaign for “fruitful” donors.The...
Canada: citizens invited to give their opinion on medically assisted dying
A questionnaire is now online inviting Canadian citizens to express their point of view freely on the topic of medically assisted dying. This initiative follows on from the creation by the Federal Government of an external committee responsible for collecting all...
Uruguay Court upholds the conscience clause for gynaecologists faced with abortion
The Uruguay Court of Administrative Litigation “ruled in favour of a group of 100 gynaecologists against the Government”on 21 August 2015 regarding their conscience clause when confronted with abortion. The judges thus overruled seven abortion-related...