Iran a big spender on stem cell research
Backed up by liberal legislation Iran plans to invest US$2.5 billion in stem cell research over the next five years. "Stem cell research centers will...
Questions linger over IVF safety, says Nature Medicine
Largely based on epidemiological evidence Although IVF is becoming increasingly common, with about 1% of births in the US coming through IVF and as many...
Down syndrome victory in US Congress
Bipartisan inspired by work of Brian Skotko The American pro-life lobby scored a rare victory in Washington recently with the passage of Kennedy-Brownback disability diagnosis...
British teen refuses heart transplant
"I'm going to die, but I also know what's best for me."A British hospital has given up its attempt to force a 13-year-old girl to...
Bioethics advice for the White House?
White House chief of staff’s brother When President Barack Obama looks for advice on bioethics, he won’t have far to go. His newly-appointed White House...
Some Australian MPs back abortion as cost-saver
Eugenics alive and well Down Under Eugenics is alive and well amongst Australian reproductive health lobbyists, it seems. Sleuthing by journalist Angela Shanahan, of The...
Amputate healthy legs if patients don’t want them, says psychiatrist
Inspired by analysis of Julian Savulescu A Sydney University psychiatrist has argued that surgeons should be allowed to amputate healthy legs if a patient is...
Some Washington hospitals resist assisted suicide
In the wake of the election day referendum Some hospitals in the American state of Washington have declared that they will not allow assisted suicide,...
Oxford animal research lab opens
After a turbulent five years Oxford University’s controversial £18 million ($28 million) animal research laboratory has finally opened. Construction began five years ago, but stopped...
Pope endorses organ transplants
... but refuses to take sides in controversy over dead-donor rule. Despite a simmering controversy over organ transplants, especially amongst Catholic bioethicists, Pope Benedict XVI...
Singapore to compensate kidney donors
... so long as it is not an undue inducement Singapore is to allow compensation for kidney transplants and for eggs. A government proposal has...
Singapore debates euthanasia
Health minister sparks controversyWill Singapore become the first Asian country to legalise euthanasia? After a speech by health minister Khaw Boon Wan a month ago...