News - Announcements


October 2006

Council of Europe News:
Bulgaria ratified on 30 October 2006:
- the Additional Protocol on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings (ETS No. 168). Entry into force 1st February 2007.
- the Additional Protocol concerning Transplantation of Organs and Tissues of Human Origins (ETS No. 186). Entry into force 1st February 2007.
- the Additional Protocol concerning Biomedical Research (CETS No. 195).

UK: Northeast Scientists Grow Artificial Liver
Scientists in the North-East have grown an artificial liver set to revolutionise the medical world.
Medics based at Newcastle University have grown a tiny liver, believed to be the first of its kind.

Stem Cell Insulin Offers Hope to Type 1 Diabetics (31.10.2006)
Insulin-secreting cells have been created from human embryonic stem cells for the first time, raising hopes of a limitless supply of cells that could be transplanted into people with type 1 diabetes.

NeuroethicsGenetic 'Breakthough' Offers Hope to Schizophrenia Victims (30.10.2006)
Scientists have discovered a variation in a gene in people at risk of schizophrenia that strongly suggests they will develop the condition. Brain scans of young people predisposed to schizophrenia show that those who go on to develop the symptoms of the disorder have the mutated gene.

Nicaragua: une loi pour interdire l'avortement (30.10.2006)
Depuis 1981, l'avortement était légalisé au Nicaragua en cas de danger de mort pour la mère, malformation fœtale, viol et inceste, et à condition d'obtenir l'accord de trois médecins et d'un proche de la mère. Jeudi, le Congrès du Nicaragua a adopté une loi interdisant l'avortement. Cette loi prévoit de punir les médecins pratiquant un avortement et les femmes y ayant recours, de 4 à 8 années de prison.

Council of Europe:
Norway ratified on 13 October 2006 the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine : Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 164).. Entry into force in Norway 1st February 2007.

Advances in ADULT Stem Cell Research (19.10.2006)
In addition to the list of Peer-Reviewed References Showing Applications Of Adult Stem Cells That Produce Therapeutic Benefit For Human Patients (PDF), DoNoHarm (stemcellresearch.org) has just posted a list of Recent Advances in Adult Stem Cell Research and Other Alternatives to Embryonic Stem Cell Research/Cloning (PDF). The latter contains reports from both the popular press and academic journals.

WMA Press Releases:
WMA General Assembly (16.10.2006)
Governments urged to issue scientifically proven messages on preventing HIV/AIDS (14.10.2006)

Woman Gives Birth to Grandchild (15.10.2006)
A Japanese woman in her 50s gave birth to her own grandchild, using an egg from her daughter and sperm from her son-in-law, a doctor has revealed. The case is set to stir debate in Japan where surrogate births are opposed by the government and a key medical group.

Most Doctors Help End Lives of Terminally Ill Patients, Says Study (14.10.2006)
Doctors help about two-thirds of terminally ill patients to die by withholding treatment or giving them painkillers they know will shorten life - but do it only when they believe death is a few days away and after consulting patients, relatives or other doctors, according to research.

Australian bishops' document on human embryo cloning (12.10.2006)
Therapeutic cloning stands as an affront to basic human values and leads society to creating a new expendable class human beings that diminishes the dignity of all people, said the Australian bishops.
Cloning without Stem Cells (2.10.2006)
US scientists say stem cells are not necessary for cloning and other cells may even be better candidates.