News - Announcements

August 2009

Genetic advance raises IVF hopes (26.8.2009)
Researchers have found a potential way to correct an inherited disorder affecting thousands of women.

China admits death row organ use (26.8.2009)
China is trying to move away from the use of executed prisoners as the major source of organs for transplants.

El Salvador Establishes National Bioethics Commission (20.8.2009)
The Republic of El Salvador has established a National Bioethics Commission. The Commission has been created by decree of the Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance. The mandate of the Commission is to assist in the elaboration of legal frameworks and national policies and to promote the protection and respect of life, the environment, and human dignity. Amongst its aims are the promotion of public debate and the provision of specific knowledge for debate and dialogue which may potentially be used in the decision making process in the field of health care.

Italian Court Rejects Scientists' Plea to Fund Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (6.8.2009)
Three Italian scientists have lost the first round of what may be a lengthy legal challenge to their government’s decision to exclude human embryonic stem cell work from a call for stem cell proposals, even though such research is legal in Italy. On Friday, 19 July, just 3 days before the deadline for submitting grant proposals, an administrative court in Rome backed up the government’s position and rejected the scientists' appeal.

Britain to Clarify Its Assisted-Suicide Law (3.8.2009)
The House of Lords, Britain's highest court, delivered a landmark ruling on July 30 when it said that the nation's assisted-suicide law must be clarified to spell out the circumstances under which authorities will prosecute someone who helps another person end their life.