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Korea: Clinical trials with CSE(h) to combat macular degeneration
A team of Korean scientists has published the results of preliminary tests on four patients suffering from macular degeneration. This clinical trial was carried out using human embryo stem cells. It is based on collaborative work between CHA University (Korea) and...
Switzerland: the Federation of Protestant Churches opposes authorisation of PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis)
Following in the steps of the country’s bishops, the Fédération des Eglises Protestantes de Suisse (FEPS) (Federation of Protestant Churches of Switzerland) expressed its opposition to a change in the Federal Constitution that would authorise pre-implantation genetic...
Switzerland: Bishops oppose authorisation of PGD
On 14 June, the Swiss people will be invited to vote for or against an amendment in the Federal Constitution proposed by Parliament and “destined to pave the way for pre-implantation diagnosis”. The Swiss bishops took their stand yesterday in an...
Human spermatozoa created in vitro: Awaiting reactions?
Last week, the biotechnology company, Kallistem, announced a "world first" in having created "fully formed human spermatozoa in vitro". The process will be tested in animals (preclinical tests) to “check the quality of the spermatozoa”and then in humans (clinical...
Morocco: Health Minister in favour of easing restrictions on abortion
In an interview last Friday with the weekly journal, Tel Quel, Health Minister El Hossein El Ouardi, clearly announced his support for easing restrictions on abortion. "As far as I am concerned, women should be allowed to decide what to do with their own bodies"....
NIPS“ready for a mass market”
ESPERITE, the laboratory that markets the NIPS test, “tranquility”, announced that it “is ready for the mass market”. In a press release dated 30 April 2015, the laboratory confirmed that the test complies with European Directive 98/79/EC relating to medical devices...
3D printing of trachea saves 3 American babies
The American team led by Dr. Glenn Grenn, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital, was granted emergency FDA [1] authorisation to implant a prosthetic trachea in three babies aged 3, 5 and 16 months. These prostheses were tailor-made...
Council of Europe Bioethics Conference: “Emerging technologies and human rights”
The Council of Europe (CE) Bioethics Conference was held in Strasbourg on 4 and 5 May. The topic “Emerging technologies and human rights” brought together international bioethics experts with a view to generating discussionsin order to “find the middle ground between...
Brussels: A grant to surrogate mothers triggers lively political reactions
In Brussels, on Sunday 3 May, the American Association, “Men having babies”organised a grant for surrogate mothers at the Maison de la Région (BIP)[1], place royale. The aim of this Conference known as “Being a gay dad”, was to “put private clinics and...
South Africa: the legal system authorises euthanasia
On Thursday, 30 April, for the first time in South Africa, the legal system authorised a doctor to “assist a patient to die”. Robin Stransham-Ford, aged 65, was suffering from terminal stage prostate cancer diagnosed in 2013. The High Court of Pretoria...
Who would like to know about genetic disposition?
Scientists interviewed 7,000 people from 75 different countries in order to establish how keen they would be to discover their genetic predispositions. Interviewees included health care professionals, researchers in genomics and the general public. The...
USA: The National Institute of Health reaffirms the ban on handling human embryos
Director of the NIH[1] (National Institute of Health), Francis Collins, has reaffirmed the Institute’s consistent position against the public financing of research involving the handling of human embryos. In a public declaration on 29 April, Francis Collins...