Portugal: Communists firmly oppose euthanasia
A step backward, not forwards A demonstration opposing euthanasia in Portugal / Morning Star A footnote to last week’s story about the narrow defeat of...
Most Americans support some form of the ‘right to die’: Gallup poll
Since World War II, attitudes have changed dramatically The latest Gallup poll shows that a broad majority of Americans, 72%, continue to believe that a...
We’re not prepared for the genetic revolution that’s coming
Even the well-educated amongst us have poor genetic knowledgeWhen humans’ genetic information (known as the genome) was mapped 15 years ago, it promised to change...
What will happen to California’s assisted suicide law?
Experts say the law will be reinstated or new legislation passed. Last month BioEdge reported on the decision by a California county court judge to...
Lookism, and what we should do about it
The latest "ism" to be added to the discrimination vernacular. There are many “isms” that pop up in debates about discrimination -- “racism”, “sexism”, “ageism”,...
A person? A thing? No, it’s a chimpanzee!
A New York judge has raised hopes that chimpanzees will be given legal rights. A concurrent opinion by a New York Court of Appeals judge...
Alfie Evans ‘culture wars’
Bioethicists have criticised the politicisation of the case. In a new editorial in the journal Bioethics, bioethicist Udo Schuklenk criticises the politicisation of the recent...
Vatican-backed hospital proposes charter of rights for incurable children
Reaction to controversial Alfie Evans case The cases of Alfie Evans and Charlie Gard rang bells around the world, not just in England. From Italy...
Ireland chooses
Ireland, which was once Europe’s most socially conservative nation, has voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment to its constitution in order to permit abortion. The...
Ireland votes to legalise abortion
Two-thirds supported an historic change Ireland has legalised abortion by repealing the Eighth Amendment to its constitution. Turnout was strong, with about 60% of the...
Head of Dignitas charged with profiting from assisted suicide
First case of its kind in Switzerland The founder of Switzerland’s best-known assisted suicide group, Dignitas, 85-year-old Ludwig Minelli, has been charged with profiting from...
‘Sugar War’ pits consumer choice against common good
US expert calls for restrictions on sugar in foods In the 17th Century the Dutch Republic and Portugal fought a forgotten war lasting more than...