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First face transplant in Canada
Canada's first face transplant has been carried out by surgeon Daniel Borsuk. The man given the transplant was the victim of a hunting accident in 2011 as a result of which he lost his nose and jaw. After a series of examinations in the spring of 2017, the...
CRISPR patent: United States Appeal Court upholds Patent Office decision
On 10 September, the United States Appeal Court made a "crucial" decision about rights concerning the CRISPR Cas9 tool, granting the patent to Harvard's Broad Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The Appeal Court thus confirmed the earlier...
According to survey, one in five mothers believes they had baby “too late” in life
A survey conducted by The Independent newspaper, claims that one in five mothers believes they had a baby too late in life. Researchers who surveyed 2,000 women aged 18 and upwards found many regret not having a child when they were younger. More than half who felt...
Japan – constant rise in the number of babies born through IVF
The number of Japanese babies born through IVF continues to soar with a record number of 54,110 births being registered in 2016, i.e. 3,109 more than the previous year, compared to 447,790 in-vitro fertilisations reported this year to date. Since the birth of...
In Texas – federal judge blocks law obliging medical establishments to bury or incinerate foetal remains
In Texas, a federal judge has quashed a law that would have required hospitals, abortion clinics and other establishments performing abortions to bury or incinerate foetal remains from abortions or miscarriages (seeTexas wants to introduce routine funerals following...
Guatemala: abortion activists back down following pro-life protests
In Guatemala, abortion activists have backed down following pro-life street demonstrations. Barely two days after a huge demonstration on 2 September 2018 which brought together 20,000 people, the opposition withdrew from its draft bill the clause extending the...
Americans finance an initial clinical trial using CRISPR-Cas9 in Europe
According to Friday's press release on the American site listing clinical trials, the first clinical trial using CRISPR-Cas 9 in humans has been launched at Ratisbonne Hospital in Germany. This experimental treatment, CTX001, was developed by CRISPR...
In the Netherlands – doctors should inform women of alternatives to abortion
In the Netherlands, some women are stating that: "I would never have chosen to have an abortion if the doctor had told me that other forms of assistance were available. I would have had a chance to keep my child". In addition, leaders of the Staat Gereformeerd...
2016-2017, 98 Belgians withdrew their “euthanasia declaration”
In 2016 and 2017, "98 Belgians withdrew their anticipated euthanasia declaration that they had submitted". Belgium has authorised this type of declaration since 2008. 170,942 requests for euthanasia have been submitted to date. Of these, "128,291 are still...
United States – funeral service for embryos destroyed as a result of freezer malfunction
Last March, following a technical failure in a cryogenic tank at the Cleveland University Hospitals Fertility Center, four thousand eggs and embryos were destroyed within a few days. The future parents of these embryos are in mourning. A memorial service was...
In Australia – Senate rejects draft bill authorising territories to legislate on voluntary euthanasia
In Australia, the draft bill which would have allowed territories to pass their own laws concerning voluntary euthanasia was rejected by 36 votes to 34 after two days of impassioned debate in the Senate. Senators Anne Ruston (Liberal) and Steve Martin...
United States – new guidelines for patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states
In the United States, new guidelines have been drawn up and published in the Neurology Journal seeking to remedy errors made in diagnosing disturbances of consciousness. These guidelines describe optimum practices for the management of patients in vegetative...