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“Legal” assisted suicide in Columbia
Eighteen years ago, a decision taken by the Columbian constitutional court made euthanasia a “constitutional right”. However, the ministerial decree coming into force on application of this right only dates from April 2015. In this context, Ovidio Gonzalez,...
United States: institutions propose the sell of “surplus” embryos
In the United States, it is estimated that over 500,000 frozen embryos “are not used by families wishing to participate in in-vitro fertilisation”. In France, activity reports have not been updated since 2010 and, based on a Biomedicine Agency audit, the registers...
Neonatal infanticides: a subject deemed too sensitive for the Human Rights Commitee of the Council of Europe
Called upon to pass judgment on the acceptability of the European petition against neonatal infanticides, the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe issued a negative response on 23 June on the grounds that...
Surrogacy in mexico: “lifting the veil on an obscure and sparsely regulated industry”
Following the restriction on surrogacy in India, Mexico is “fast becoming the new Eldorado for surrogacy”. Ever since this practice was legalised in 1997 in the State of Tabasco[1], “hundreds of women have been renting out their wombs every year to couples,...
Texas: suspension of a law restricting abortion
This Monday, the United States Supreme Court Judges decided to temporarily block a Texan law “restricting abortion” by five votes to four. This law, which was validated in 2013 by the Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit, which covers Texas, “imposed a number...
United States: a draft law to ban genetic changes to human embryos
A debate is currently underway in the United States Chamber of Representatives to determine whether hereditary changes to the embryo genome should be authorised. This debate surfaced in April when Chinese scientists announced that they had succeeded in altering...
The promises of stem cells attract investors
Switzerland and Ontario have decided to step up research into stem cells: Nescens, a subsidiary of Aevis Holding, is focussing on "the extraordinary therapeutic potential of stem cells”and is entering into partnership with the Swiss Stem Cell Bank in Lugano[1]....
Rejection of the conscience clause for medicale staff in sweden
In 2013 by virtue of its preparatory status with the Council of Europe, the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FCFAE) in conjunction with Swedish organisations Provita and KLM lodged a collective complaint against Sweden based on health rights and...
Ohio: the senate adopts a law banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Following the example of South Carolina, Wisconsin and West Virginia, Ohio senators adopted a law on Friday (by 23 votes to 9) banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the only exception being if the mother’s life is in jeopardy. Fourteen states have...
Adoption of Law on in-vitro fertilisation in Poland
The Polish Parliament has just adopted a draft law on In-Vitro Fertilisation. The Civic Platform and Left MPs are celebrating the outcome whereas the Right and the Catholic Church are voicing their opposition to this legislation. Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz...
A drone to distribute abortion pills in Poland
On 27 June, the Dutch Association, Woman on Waves, which advocates access to abortion and promotes legalisation of the latter in Europe, will arrange for a drone to take off from Frankfurt to “deliver abortion pills” in Poland where abortion is illegal. The...
The United Nations call on Ireland to hold a referendum on abortion
In a report broaching numerous problems, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has asked the Irish Government, amongst others, “to take all of the necessary measures” – including a referendum – to review its law on abortion. This...