By: Kristian Sjøgren The possibility of using stem cells to treat diseases was first suggested in the early 1990s. After many years of waiting, followed by more waiting, scientists are finally ready to conduct the first ever clinical trials on humans. These experiments will involve Danish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have suffered
France passed legislation on Tuesday giving doctors new powers to place terminally-ill patients in a “deep sleep” until they die, sparking controversy over whether euthanasia should be fully legalised. Eight out of 10 French people are in favour of allowing euthanasia and almost all – 96 per cent – back the “deep sleep” law, polls
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW), a Polish state institution, entered a collaboration focused on stem cell research. The institutions are laying the groundwork for potential Polish-Californian research initiatives to advance stem cell therapies through collaborations among innovators in the field. CRIM and MUW said they believe
WARSAW, March 10 (Reuters) – Poland’s government approved a draft bill to regulate in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment on Tuesday, in a move aimed at attracting voters ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections later this year. IVF has been performed in Poland for the last 25 years, but traditionally Roman Catholic Poland has so far not
By ALLYN GAESTEL In pharmacies around Lagos, behind counters stacked with cough drops, vitamins and antibiotics, usually hidden but available on request is a drug called misoprostol or by its brand name Cytotec. Sometimes the pharmacists request a prescription — something that can be bought at some clinics even without seeing a doctor — but often
By James Brooks France’s top civil court, the Court of Cassation, has ruled that children conceived via assisted reproduction overseas can be adopted by same-sex parents. Following a law change in 2013, homosexual couples in France are allowed to adopt but remain barred from using IVF. A few French courts had thus refused adoption rights to
by Souhail Karam and Caroline Alexander (Bloomberg) — Morocco’s Islamist-led government has asked a panel of clerics, doctors and legislators to look into relaxing a five-decade-old abortion law that activists say is pushing more and more women into back-street terminations. The health ministry will convene a first meeting on Wednesday to discuss changes to the law. Under consideration
The Canadian Press Quebec is slowly but surely moving toward officially recognizing contracts drawn up between surrogate mothers and couples looking to conceive. If it happens, it could mean the dawning of a small revolution in family law in the province. Born to surrogate, child has no legal mother, Quebec judge rules Quebec to
By Ladane Nasseri Dubai: Iran’s parliament has banned vasectomies and tubectomies except to save a person’s life as part of the nation’s push to promote bigger families. The parliament also voted on Monday to prohibit the “promotion of birth control” and said that media outlets that don’t comply risk being suspended for as long as
By Scott Macnab More than 10,000 people have now signed a petition opposing proposals to introduce state assisted suicide in Scotland. The Care Not Killing (CNK) umbrella group which is spearheading the campaign against the controversial legislation says opposition is “growing every day.” The change will allow Scots who are dying and find
by Alessandro De Luca
by Alessandro De Luca
by Pietro Migliorati
