@batumi_mama under stress
On Instagram Kristina Öztürk goes by the handle @batumi_mama. The 24-year-old Russian woman has 22 surrogate children, plus one of her own, in her home...
Happy the elephant is not a ‘person’
Happy the elephant, a long-time resident of the Bronx Zoo, can remain there after the New York court of appeals ruled she is not legally...
Once again, UK lawyers duel over ‘brain dead’ youngster
The United Kingdom is once again debating brain death. In recent years there have been several high-profile disputes between parents who want to keep their...
Canada may legalise euthanasia for people with mental illness
Canada is on track to expand eligibility for euthanasia to people with mental illness. An expert panel released its final report on the topic last...
Russia sanctions Western parents seeking surrogate mothers
In the bewildering world of tit-for-tat economic sanctions, Russia is coming off much better than anyone expected after it invaded Ukraine. President Biden tweeted on...
The perilous world of Facebook sperm donors
Using Facebook to find a sperm donor is very dangerous. This is the lesson from a judgement handed down in the UK Family Court. Mrs...
Swiss doctors back restrictions on assisted suicide
The Swiss Medical Association has clarified its attitude toward assisted suicide – and it is very restrictive in the face of growing pressures for liberalisation....
Orphaned embryos in the care of an orphan
Apologies for overlooking this story from seven years ago. But it is so thought-provoking that it deserves to be reported. I stumbled across it in...
Singapore faces legal and ethical challenges with sperm and egg donation
In recent year, Singapore has seen increasing utilization of IVF and other new assisted reproductive technologies, similar to the trend in many developed countries worldwide....
Euthanasia makes clean sweep of Australian states
The Australian state of New South Wales legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide last week. Members of the Upper House supported the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2022 by...
Should institutions enjoy freedom of conscience?
One of the most difficult issues in contemporary bioethics is “institutional freedom of conscience”. Should a healthcare facilities or nursing homes in a liberal democracy...
‘I can feel your pain’ — should we feel good after hearing this?
“What makes something better is connection.” Doctors and nurses have been educated to prize empathy as an essential skill in caring for patients, as this...