British to ponder sex selection
The British government has launched a public consultation on a revision of its 1990 fertility law. Permitting couples to choose the sex of their baby...
Ethical” embryonic stem cells discovered
Umbilical cord blood could be a source of cells with all the potential of stem cells derived from embryos but without their ethical baggage, say...
Yes, patients can have too much choice
Too much choice can be a nightmare for patients, according to a feature in the New York Times. "Many find the job of being a...
Dilemmas of cosmetic surgery I: The Catman
Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more popular amongst both women and men. But few take it to the extremes that Dennis Avner does. Better...
Dilemmas of cosmetic surgery II: the supermarket
A British cosmetic surgery clinic is offering loyalty card discounts to repeat customers. Anyone who has four consecutive procedures is entitled to ?200 cash back...
Foetal skin heals child burns patients
Skin taken from an aborted child has been used by Swiss doctors to create grafts for paediatric burns. In an article in The Lancet, researchers...
Stem cell research developments
Scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Milan have created the world's first pure nerve stem cells from embryonic stem cells. "This is incredibly exciting...
IN BRIEF: chlamydia; Illinois contraceptives; mercy killing in Iraq
Chlamydia: British fertility expert Lord Robert Winston has questioned whether the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia is responsible for an increasing number of infertile couples. He...