Assisted suicide debate moves south, to Connecticut
After being rebuffed in Massachusetts, the assisted suicide lobby has turned its eyes to neighbouring Connecticut, where euthanasia legislation is due to be debated later...
The true “immorality” of test-tube babies
However, a journalist for the American financial magazine Forbes has once again raised the issue of IVF ethics. Its "original sin", says Peter Ubel, was...
Landmark “vegetative state” paper challenged
US researchers have questioned the results of a landmark study in The Lancet from 2011 on awareness of “vegetative” patients. US researchers have questioned the...
Can pills or genetic engineering make children more moral?
Hi there, One of today’s stories reminds me of something that happened in Melbourne a couple of years ago. For a while, just once a...
Israel halts underhanded contraceptive injections for Ethiopian migrants
Years of rumours that Ethiopian women were pressured into having contraceptive injections by Israeli officials have finally been confirmed. Years of rumours that Ethiopian women...
Make the world a better place. Take nice drugs.
Is moral bioenhancement the answer to the dark clouds gathering over the future of humanity? “What a wonderful world,” sang Louis Armstrong. But how can...
“Universal bereavement, an inspiring achievement”
The pessimism of Tom Lehrer without the humour is more or less the theme of The Cambridge Project for Existential Risk — a joint initiative...
Swedish transsexuals win right not to be sterilized
Transsexuals have won a major victory in Sweden. A court has ruled unconstitutional a law which required them to be sterilized before they could be...
Ariel Sharon may be conscious
The world’s most famous person in a permanent vegetative state is former Israeli Prime-Minister Ariel Sharon. He suffered a massive stroke seven years ago, and...
“It’s life, Jim, but not as we know it”
40 years after Rowe v. Wade, the abortion debate has grown no less bitter, pitting woman’s rights against the rights of the foetus. A journalist...
German cleric apologises over rape victim mistreatment
A prominent German cleric has apologized after a possible rape victim was refused treatment at two Catholic hospitals. In a statement issued last week, Cardinal...
Bright ideas week
Hi there, This week’s theme seems to be “surprising proposals”. That’s just the way it happened as we pulled the newsletter together. Perhaps the production...