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42 million abortions worldwide last year
In 2018, 41.9 million abortions were performed worldwide, "i.e. more than the number of deaths globally recorded for the ten main causes of death",according to the statistics website Worldometers[1], which states that the figures do not include miscarriages. In 2014,...
New medical ethics manual in the US: doctors still opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia
The American College of Physicians (ACP) yesterday published an updated edition of its ethics manual, the seventh version since 1984. The purpose of this manual is to "facilitate the process of making ethical decisions in clinical practice, teaching, and medical...
United States – most young adults disagree with Democrats on abortion
Over the past three years, US democrats have fought to expand access to abortion and have created a national information platform on the subject. The American media claim that most young people under the age of 34 in fact advocate this policy. However, a new...
€250 to choose “own” Swedish sperm donor from photo
Cryos, a Danish sperm bank, now gives clients the chance to select their sperm donor from a photo gallery "in order to get the most beautiful babies". This option costs an extra €250, but it seems that clients are more than willing to pay. "The adult photo helps them...
Declining birth rate: “Norway needs more children!”
"Norway needs more children! I don't think I need to spell it out for you", said the Norwegian Prime Minister on 17 January 2019. In 2017, the fertility rate reached a landmark figure of "between 1.49 and 1.71 children per woman" despite "coming close to the level...
UN Human Rights Committee: Egyptian expert denounces “violation of the right to life”
In an article published today, the European Centre for Law and Justice discusses comments made by Mahmoud Fathalla, an Egyptian, and one of the experts on the United Nations Human Rights Committee. This 18-strong Committee is responsible for "ensuring compliance with...
A woman, in a vegetative state for 10 years, gives birth to a child
In Arizona, in the United States, a woman who has been in a vegetative state for a decade has just given birth to a child. No-one had even noticed that she was pregnant. A sexual assault investigation has been launched by Phoenix police who are expected to take DNA...
UN denounces organ trafficking
On Monday, 7 January, the United Nations published a report in which it deplores the fact that human trafficking continues to be a largely unpunished crime, referring in particular to organ trafficking, forced labour and sexual exploitation. It calls for increased...
In Britain single people will now be able to become parents through surrogacy
A corrective order has come into force in the United Kingdom, allowing single people to legally become the parents of their children conceived through surrogacy. Under British law, a woman who gives birth to a child is automatically the child's legal parent,...
Genetically modified babies: He Jiankui faces death penalty
Chinese researcher He Jiankui, who claims to have delivered the first genetically modified babies, has been living under house arrest on a Shenzhen university campus since his announcement at the end of November. There are doubts surrounding his surveillance. Is he...
Ireland: medically assisted reproduction law delayed
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced that funds would be made available to couples using medically assisted reproduction treatments. At the same time, he admitted that adoption of the medically assisted reproduction draft bill would take longer than anticipated...
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) hears Belgian euthanasia case
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg has just agreed to take up a case of euthanasia in Belgium. Godelieve De Troyer was euthanised in 2012 by Wim Distelmans, a renowned Belgian oncologist. Tom Mortier, her son, criticises Belgium for...