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Iowa: a couple claim damages following the birth of their disabled child
According to a Supreme Court judgment in Iowa, United States, on 2 June, the parents of a "severely disabled" child can sue doctors for failing to detect the disability during pregnancy. The case in question involves a little boy, born in 2010, who...
“Killing off death”: a controversial trial in Latin America
"Killing off death". This transhumanist objective is at the heart of a controversial trial to resuscitate brain-dead patients - the Reanima project. The biotechnology company, Bioquark, which already created a stir back in May 2016 (see "ReAnima" trial:...
Switzerland: two brothers continue their fight for justice against Exit
Following the suicide of their brother who had contacted Geneva-based Exit for assistance, the two men who wanted to prevent him from ending his life, "are continuing their legal battle". "On 16 May (…), the Public Prosecutor ruled that there had been...
Dominican Republic: the Senate rejects plans to decriminalise abortion
On 31 May, in the Dominican Republic, whilst adopting the Penal Code, senators rejected several proposals put forward by the Government to decriminalise abortion. In a press release, bishops welcomed the Senate's decision: "The nation has delivered a strong...
“In the future, all diseases could potentially be treated with iPs cells”
Masayo Takahashi, Professor at the Riken Public Institute and "an international pioneer in clinical trials based on iPS stem cells[1]", has announced that, "in future, all diseases could potentially be treated (…) with iPS cells, even if only minimal...
Laos: heading towards a surrogacy ban?
Since countries bordering Laos, such as Thailand and Cambodia, banned surrogacy in 2015, numerous clinics have sprung up in Laos, which has become the destination of choice for many sterile couples from all over the world. The fees charged by these clinics are "very...
Jacques Testart: Resist transhumanism, towards a responsible humanity? (3/3)
During the symposium’s opening lecture “Criticism of transhumanist reason”, held at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris on May 19th and 20th, Jacques Testart, procreation biologist and father of the first French “test-tube” baby, went over all at stake concerning...
Jacques Testart: Resist Transhumanism, Why? How? (2/3)
During the opening lecture “Criticism of transhumanist reason” of the symposium held at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris on May 19th and 20th, Jacques Testart, procreation biologist and father of the first French “test-tube” baby, went over all at stake concerning...
Jacques Testart: Resist transhumanism “because human beings are worth more than what they often seem” (1/3)
“Resist transhumanism” is the inauguration lecture given at the symposium “criticism of transhumanist reason”, which took place at the Collège des Bernardins in France, last May 19th and 20th. It came as a conclusion of the symposium “Humanism, transhumanism,...
Genome editing: Sangamo embarks on clinical trials
Within the clinical trial setting, Sangamo Therapeutics will use the zinc finger nuclease technique [1] to introduce the gene of a missing coagulation factor into the hepatic cells of men presenting with haemophilia B. The patients will have "a new gene...
Japan: genetic tests for family planning trigger a debate
In Japan, a company specialising in genetics, namely Genesis Healthcare Co. based in Tokyo, will offer a new "service" to future parents within the next 12 months - a test based on DNA analysis to check their "compatibility" and establish the...
A safer method for creating induced pluripotent stem cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are "extremely promising for regenerative medicine, personal medicine and discovering new medicines". However, "whilst avoiding ethical controversies associated with embryo stem cells", the use of certain genes and...