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Second full face transplant following rejection: patient follows “tedious” rehabilitation
Jérôme Hamon underwent a second full face transplant on 15 and 16 January 2018[1], after spending three months in an ICU without a face: "no face, eyes closed, no ears, unable to speak for three months". The first transplant was performed in 2010 and was...
USA: debate on “right to try” experimental drugs on the terminally ill
When drugs already on the market fail to provide a cure, the terminally ill may want to try out new treatments that are not yet available. For those who have not been selected to take part in clinical trials, the U.S. government wants to pass legislation making...
Algeria confirms ban on abortion in the event of genetic foetal malformation
In its report on the draft health bill, the APN Commission for Social Affairs and Health[1] delivered its verdict on the debate aimed at extending access to abortion: "Article 81 relating to abortion in the event of genetic malformation has not been upheld by the...
Could genetically modified pigs offset the shortage of human transplant organs?
A team of scientists at Meiji University and Kyoto Prefectural University are using human stem cells to develop organs in "designer" pigs. Pigs are the first animals to have been developed for xenotransplantation[1]. These scientists have collected induced...
In India, “living wills” pave the way to passive euthanasia
The Indian Supreme Court has just authorised the drafting of a "living will", which legalises passive euthanasia[1]. In fact, in these wills, patients can outline end-of-life choices with specific reference to the withdrawal of any treatment they deem inappropriate,...
United States – genetic test for breast cancer risk soon to be sold to the general public
On 6 March 2018, the FDA approved the marketing of a test for breast cancer risk for three BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants, developed by the California-based company23andme. Unlike other genetic tests currently on the market, these kits will be available without a...
In Canada, the debate on the legal status of the foetus is refuelled
Premeditated murder? In July 2017, Sofiane Ghazi plunged a knife several times into the abdomen of his partner who was 8 months pregnant. The mother survived her wounds but the baby died. Sofiane Ghazi is therefore accused of the first degree murder of his...
The human embryo: a person or a cluster of cells?
The human embryo: a person or a cluster of cells? To be or not to be, that truly is the question when dozens of human embryo research protocols are authorised by the Biomedicine Agency. Because the said embryos are destroyed in this type of research. Also, when the...
Contraceptive pill and strokes – is there a connection?
A report initially published in Medlink Neurology in 2003 has been updated to highlight the links between hormonal contraception and strokes. A distinction is made between the different types of stroke: haemorrhagic strokes, the frequency of which does not appear to...
10% of transplants around the world the result of organ trafficking
According to a WHO report [1], at least 10% of organ transplants performed worldwide are allegedly the result of some form of trading including transplant tourism. In countries such as Egypt (see Egypt unveils a new network specialising in organ trafficking,...
Legal deadline for abortion reduced from 20 to 15 weeks in the State of Mississippi
In the United States, the State of Mississippi has just approved a reduction in the legal abortion limit from 20 weeks (22nd week of pregnancy) to 15 weeks (17th week of pregnancy). Once passed, Mississippi will have the most restrictive abortion legislation in the...
USA: second baby born after a uterus transplant
This American woman was born with the Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), i.e. without a uterus. She lived “convinced she would never be able to get pregnant or have a baby”. However, she has just given birth to a baby girl at Baylor University Medical...