Twenty-five years ago, after undergoing in-vitro fertilisation, an anonymous couple donated frozen embryos to “give a chance to those unable to conceive a child naturally”. For their part, Tina and Benjamin Gibson knew when they got married that they would not be able to have their own biological children as Benjamin has cystic fibrosis, which has left him…
A study conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital and the University of Montreal warns against the use of genome editing in humans because the “genetic differences between individuals could prove detrimental to the efficacy of gene modification” and affect the safety of tests conducted in humans. The authors are in fact asking for gene editing to be adapted…
In an article published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynaecology, bioethics and medical experts express their desire for a more in-depth investigation into ethical issues relating to “amnioinfusion”—experimental foetal therapy. They list ten key questions to be examined: the potential risks and benefits compared to alternatives, information for parents, consent, evaluation of results, fair access, conflicts of…
Pre-implantation diagnostics have been carried out since the 1990s to detect chromosomal anomalies in embryos prior to implantation. Several techniques have been devised for this purpose. Polar body biopsies were initially carried out prior to fertilisation. Polar bodies or globules are cells formed during egg maturation, which disappear after fertilisation. They should have the same…
On Thursday 14th December Italian lawmakers passed a law to allow living wills and the Refusal of End-of-Life Care. The law just approved permits Italians to write living wills and refuse medical treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration, without the possibility of conscience objection. “Norme in materia di consenso informato e di disposizioni anticipate di trattamento”…
Brussels December 12th 2017. The EP will vote on December 12th and 13th the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2016 and the European Union’s policy on the matter and the report EU Citizenship Report 2017: Strengthening Citizens’ Rights in a Union of Democratic Change (2017/2069(INI)) Access to safe abortion” has…
15.000 people marched for Life last Saturday in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands. Theme for the March for Life this year, which was held for the 25th time: When did your heart start beating? Around 11.00 o’clock in the morning thousands of participants gathered at the Malieveld in The Hague, where…
830.000 signatures were delivered to the Parliament of Poland on Thursday, November 30. Supporters of the Citizens Initiative #StopAbortion greatly surpassed the required by law minimum of 100.000 signatures. Now, the legal proposition to ban eugenic abortion will be proceed by the Polish Parliament within the next three months. The number of signatories is…
The latest hot discussion in widening the scope of the Embryo Protection Act is for allowing anonymous gamete donation. This means using a third party, that is, a man or woman, other than the couple, to provide sperm or egg. In this case, the donor is given an altruistic description comparing this to an act…
For 4 years, the French Ministry of Health has established a system to record data of the pregnant women who are likely to bear foetus with Down syndrome – this is a first in History. Today, this terrifying reality happens in France; tomorrow, it may extend to other countries. In July 2016, the two decrees…