BIOETHICS NEWS AND ISSUES

Document on Problems With In-Vitro Fertilization Gets Catholic Bishops Okay
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops approved a 15-page document on reproductive technologies this week called Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology. The new paper says pro-life Catholics need to be mindful of the ethical problems associated with technologies like in-vitro fertilization.

Controversial Human Cloning Company Applies Again for Embryonic Stem Cell Trial
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Advanced Cell Technology is at it again. The human cloning company that thrives on overstated press releases that capture the media's attention and temporarily drive up its stock prices is announcing yet another attempt at launching a trial with patients receiving injections of embryonic stem cells.

Bioethicist Wesley Smith: Senate Health Care Bill is Assisted Suicide Friendly
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Bioethicist Wesley J. Smith says the new Senate health care reform bill contains another problem apart form abortion funding. The new measure is friendly to assisted suicide in that it contains language supporting physicians who don't want to kill their patients but promotes the practice nonetheless.

Nebraska Group Releases 7,000 Petitions Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) -- A Nebraska group delivered almost 7,000 petitions from state residents opposing the expansion of embryonic stem cell research. The Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research delivered the petitions to University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Catholic Bishops Vote to Reaffirm Food and Water for Coma, "Vegetative" Patients
Baltimore, MD (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops have agreed to strengthen the requirement that Catholic hospitals give food and water to comatose or patients in a so-called "vegetative" state. The move drew praise and support from the family of Terri Schiavo, whose former husband killed in her by removing her nutrition.

South Australia Parliament Rejects Measure to Allow Euthanasia, Pro-Lifers Happy
Adelaide, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- The South Australia parliament has rejected a measure to legalize euthanasia and the move is drawing praise from pro-life advocates. The upper house of the South Australian parliament voted to oppose legislation put forward by Greens MP Mark Parnell.

House Health Care Legislation Still Has End-of-Life, Assisted Suicide Problems
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Members of Congress may have added a measure to stop abortion funding in the House version of the government-run health care bill, but the legislation still presents troubles for pro-life advocates. As several pro-life groups noted after the vote, the Family Research Council says they remain.

South Dakota Group Opposes Measure for Human Cloning, Embryonic Research
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- A new grassroots organization has sprung up that would urge voters to reject a statewide ballot measure next year that would force taxpayers to pay for embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. That is the research that has yet to provide any cures for patients and has had problems in animal studies.

Nebraska Pro-Life Groups Want University Board to Revisit Stem Cell Research
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) -- Nebraska Right to Life and other state pro-life groups are asking the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to revisit its current policy on embryonic stem cell research. The current policy follows the Obama administration's policy of forcing taxpayers to pay for the destruction of human life.

New Hampshire Panel Rejects Bill to OK Assisted Suicide for Residents, Others
Concord, NH (LifeNews.com) -- A New Hampshire legislative committee has rejected a bill that would have expanded assisted suicide to New Hampshire but allow it for residents of surrounding states. The language could have turned the Granite State into a suicide haven.

Pro-Life Advocates Launch New Adult Stem Cell Research Educational Campaign
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With the never-ending battles over abortion and health care, the pro-life community may be lulled into forgetting that other fights exist on the bioethics front. To keep those concerns at the forefront, the Family Research Council is launching a new adult stem cell research educational campaign.

Next Debate on Canada Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide Pushed to December
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The next debate on the bill in the Canadian Parliament that would legalize assisted suicide has been pushed backed to December. The news comes after a new poll showing Canadians have strong concerns about how the legislation would adversely affect the elderly and disabled.

AARP Backs House Health Care Bill Despite Death Panels, Assisted Suicide Issues
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's most prominent organization for seniors is expected to formalize its endorsement of the House health care reform bill today. The backing from AARP for the bill, which includes massive abortion funding, comes despite concerns about death panels and assisted suicide.

Lines That Divide Film Continues Asking Tough Questions About Bioethics Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Most pro-life advocates can easily articulate the pro-life perspective when it comes to the issue of abortion. But when complex bioethics questions like embryonic stem cell research and human cloning arise, the ability to shape a sound argument escapes even some long-time pro-life activists.

British Parents Battle at High Court Over Disabled Boy, May be Denied Treatment
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Parents in Britain are battling at the nation's high court in the case of Baby RB, a disabled boy whose father is opposing attempts by a hospital trust to deny him life-sustaining treatment. The trust argues that Baby RB's quality of life is so low due to congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) that it is not in his best interests to stay alive.

Canadian Poll Shows Concerns of Hurting Disabled by Legalizing Assisted Suicide
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll conducted by the polling firm Environics for a Canadian pro-life group shows residents of Canada support legalizing assisted suicide, but do so with considerable reservations. The poll finds 61% said they favored legalization if a patient consents but large majorities also have concerns.

House Health Care Bill Allows Taxpayer-Funded Promotion of Assisted Suicide
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The new House health care reform bill unveiled last week by Speaker Nancy Pelosi contains more than the controversial "death panels" panned in the previous legislation. The new bill, H.R. 3962, contains direct taxpayer-funded promotion of assisted suicide in the states where it is currently legal.

Michigan's Proposal 2 Not Creating Jobs or Advancing Research, Pro-Lifers Say
Lansing, MI (LifeNews.com) -- The University of Michigan today released details of the $6.8 million in federal stimulus-fund grants given to scientists for stem cell research. While economically-depressed Michigan needs the boost, Right to Life of Michigan has questions about the direction of the funding.

British Parliament to Vote on Amendment Monday to Allow Assisted Suicide Tourism
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the House of Lords are expected to vote again on Monday on an amendment that would promote assisted suicide. The vote comes after the July defeat of another amendment that would have made it easier for Britons to engage in assisted suicide.

Obama Economics Advisor Robert Reich Blasted for Promoting Death Panels
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin got pilloried for suggesting that the government-run health care system set up under the bills in Congress would lead to "death panels." But, now, a video has surfaced showing Obama economics advisor Robert Reich essentially admitting Palin was right.

New Stem Cell Research Bill Could Promote Human Cloning, Destroying Embryos
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama issued an executive order this year to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research that destroys human life. Now that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued the guidelines to implement that decision, a pro-cloning member of Congress wants to open the door further.

Genetic Testing of Embryos May Cause Dementia, Obesity In Adulthood
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has become a controversial part of the booming infertility and baby-making medical industry. This example of unnatural selection allows for the chromosomes of an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF)to be analyzed.

Obama Administration Sued to Stop Tax-Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of pro-life advocates including two scientists, two families, an adoption agency and the Christian Medical Association have banded together to file a lawsuit against the Obama administration in an effort to stop the expected taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research.

Canadian Parliament Begins Debate on Bill C-384 to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The Canadian Parliament last week began debate on Bill C-384 that would legalize assisted suicide in Canada. On October 2, the measure, received its first hour of debate after Québécois MP Francine Lalonde won a higher number in the lottery for private members bills.

Terri Schiavo's Brother Bobby Schindler to Speak at University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- On the heels of pro-abortion President Barack Obama speaking at the University of Notre Dame and getting an honorary degree, a noted pro-life advocate will give a speech at its law school. Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo, whose husband subjected her to a painful euthanasia death, will speak.

Senate Committee Defeats Amendment to Stop Financial Incentive for Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Members of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday not only turned back an amendment to stop abortion funding, but they defeated an amendment to stop rationing as well. They rejected, on a party-line vote, an amendment to eliminate the rationing components of the Baucus health care bill.

Fertility Clinics in California, Louisiana Face Lawsuits Over Destroying Embryos
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Fertility clinics in Louisiana and California are facing lawsuits over their destruction or mishandling of human embryos -- the unique human beings waiting to be born. The lawsuits highlight the problems of fertility clinics having such a direct control over the life and death of people in their earliest days.

New NIH Web Site Promotes Obama's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Tax-Funding
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Institutes of Health has set up a new web site that will further implement the decision by President Barack Obama to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The research has yet to help any patients, unlike the use of adult stem cells which has proven particularly useful.

Genetic Engineering: U.S. Company Now Offers Look-Alike Celebrity Sperm
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to have a baby whose genes come from someone who looks like a celebrity can now have their wish fulfilled. That's thanks to a company that is coming under fire for offering sperm from people who may resemble your favorite celebrity.

Legislation Could Expand Assisted Suicide to New Hampshire, Surrounding States
Concord, NH (LifeNews.com) -- New Hampshire state Representative Charles Weed is introducing a measure that would not only expand assisted suicide to New Hampshire but allow it for residents of surrounding states. the language of the Weed amendment would turn the Granite State into a suicide haven.

South Dakota Voters Could Face Ballot Prop for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- When voters in South Dakota head to the polls next November, they could face a statewide ballot measure that would force taxpayers to pay for embryonic stem cell research. That is the science that has yet to provide any cures for patients and has had problems in animal studies.

Washington Times Confirms Baucus Health Care Bill has Rationing for Seniors
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In their analysis of the Baucus health care bill, pro-life groups point out a section that rations health care for senior citizens. In an editorial today, the Washington Times confirms that to be the case, and members of a Senate panel will address it when they vote on amendments next week to fix the problems.

Study Shows Patients in Vegetative States Can Learn, Predicting Recovery
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Brain-damaged patients who appear to have lost signs of conscious awareness might still be able to create new memories -- showing signs of new neural networks and potential for partial recovery, a new study shows. In patients who have survived severe brain damage, judging the level of actual awareness has proved a difficult process.

Fertility Clinic's Error in Giving Mother Wrong Unborn Baby Sparks Reform Call
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The case of an Ohio fertility clinic that has received national attention for giving a mother the wrong unborn child is sparking calls for reform. One leading pro-life bioethicist says the entire industry is largely unregulated and needs more oversight from federal and state governments.

Canada's Catholic Bishops Ask Parliament to Oppose Legalizing Assisted Suicide
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has written a letter to members of Parliament in Canada asking MPs to oppose a bill that would legalize assisted suicide. Bloc MP Francine Lalonde has introduced her third private member's bill, C-384, to legalize the grisly practice.

Nat Hentoff Highlights Rationing of Seniors' Health Care in Column on Baucus Bill
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Respected liberal pro-life columnist Nat Hentoff has a new opinion column he released yesterday that focuses on the concerns about rationing in the Baucus health care bill. After reading the legislative proposal, Hentoff agrees that provisions in the bill will lead to rationing of medical care for seniors.

Pro-Life Amendments to Baucus Bill Would Remove Financial Incentive for Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life members of the Senate Finance Committee have offered two amendments designed to eliminate the rationing components of the Baucus health care bill. The concern revolves around one provision that penalizes Medicare doctors who provide higher levels of medical treatment to senior citizens.

England Pro-Life Groups: Prosecutor's Assisted Suicide Guidelines Target Disabled
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The backlash continues against the new guidelines issued by a head prosecutor for when people will not be charged with assisted suicide. Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, has gone beyond a court ruling and decriminalized assisted suicides in the UK committed by friends and relatives.

UK Doctor Ready to Challenge New Guidelines Allowing Some Assisted Suicides
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A doctor in England is ready to become the first to challenge the new guidelines issued by a top British prosecutor that essentially allow assisted suicide. Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions, has gone beyond a court ruling and decriminalized some assisted suicides.

British Prosecutor Legalizes Assisted UK Suicides by Friends, Relatives
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The British Parliament has refused to approve a bill that would directly legalized assisted suicide in the UK, but a prosecutor has opened up the country to suicide on his own. The prosecutor's decision follows a decision by the House of Lords allowing Debbie Purdy the right to know if her husband would be prosecuted if he took her to Switzerland to kill herself.

Baucus Health Care "Reform" Bill Funds Abortions, Promotes Rationing for Seniors
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Baucus health care "reform" bill that is quickly becoming the potential alternative to the Kennedy bill and HR 3200 includes abortion subsidies and mandates. Additional analysis also shows the legislation includes health care rationing that would cause problems for senior citizens.

Baucus Senate Bill Pressures Doctors to Ration Health Care, Promote Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The initial analysis of the new Baucus health care bill in the Senate finds the measure includes massive abortion subsidies and mandates. However, an analysis from the National Right to Life Committee also reveals the bill contains health care rationing components.

Pro-Life Advocates With Disabled Children Worried by Health Care Bills' Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Pro-life advocates with children with disabilities are concerned about the rationing found in the health care "reform" bills pending in Congress. They say the legislation puts the U.S. in league with nations like Canada and the U.K. where health care rationing is much more prevalent.

Newly-Confirmed Obama Regulatory Czar Cass Sunstein Pro-Abortion, Pro-Cloning
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate recently approved Cass Sunstein as President Obama's new regulatory czar and, like other members of the administration, more information is coming out about his anti-life views after the fact. Sunstein was confirmed by the Senate last week as administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Memorial Service Planned in Florida for Terri Schiavo's Father Robert Schindler
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- A memorial service has been planned for Robert Schindler, the late father of Terri Schiavo. Terri is the disabled woman whose estranged husband subjected her to a painful 13-day starvation and dehydration death after courts prevented Schindler from becoming her guardian and providing her care.

Canadian Euthanasia Opponents: We Can Defeat Bill to Allow Assisted Suicide
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Leading euthanasia opponents in Canada say they think they can defeat Bill C-384, the measure parliament will consider later this month to legalize assisted suicide. Bill C-384 was introduced by the Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde in May 2009 and it is her latest bill to promote suicide.

Washington Says 28 People Have Requested Assisted Suicide Drugs Since March
Olympia, WA (LifeNews.com) -- The first report from the state health department in Washington finds 28 people requested assisted suicide drugs since the new law allowing the practice went into effect in March. The new figures show 16 of the patients have since died, though she state won't say if they died from natural causes or using the barbiturates.

Sarah Palin Again Bashes Obama, Congress on Rationing in Health Care Bills
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has penned an opinion column running in the Wall St. Journal that again bashes Obama and Congress. She expands on her previous comments about "death panels" by saying that the bills wrongly endorse health care rationing.

First Baby Born From New In-Vitro Fertilization Egg-Screening Technique
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Scientists in England report that the first baby has been born from a controversial new egg-screening technique that has its basis in in-vitro fertilization. Baby Oliver was born to a woman who had failed on 13 occasions to have a child using conventional in-vitro procedures.

British Experts Say Terminally Ill Patients Pushed by NHS to Die Prematurely
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A group of experts in England have published a letter to the London Telegraph newspaper saying that terminally ill patients are being pushed by the nation' government-run health system to die prematurely. The letter is already being used to talk about the problems of the U.S. moving in the same direction.

Montana Supreme Court Holds Hearing on Case to Allow Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- The Montana Supreme Court held a hearing today on a case that could make the state the third to allow assisted suicide. The state's high court could open the door for a more permissive allowance of the grisly practice than either Oregon or Washington, which currently allow doctors to help patients kill themselves.

Jack Kevorkian Promotes Euthanasia Again, Al Pacino HBO Movie Out Next Year
Detroit, MI (LifeNews.com) -- In one of his first lengthy interviews following eight years in prison for murdering a disabled patient on national television, Jack Kevorkian is at it again promoting euthanasia. Meanwhile, the movie that will glorify his life and his killing of dozens and dozens of people will debut next year.

Montana Supreme Court Will Take Up Case Wednesday to Allow Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- The Montana Supreme Court will take up a case on Wednesday that could make the state the third to allow assisted suicide. The case is a concern for pro-life advocates because a decision in favor of assisted suicide could also open up the grisly practice without any limits other states have.

British Scientists Use Patients' Own Adult Stem Cells to Help Avoid Hip Replacement
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British scientists have pioneered a breakthrough technique involving adult stem cell research to help patients who may otherwise need a hip replacement. The new technique, which involves the use of a patient's own stem cells, shows adult cells continue to be more promising them embryonic ones.

Republican Party Runs New Health Care Ad Blasting Rationing, Targets Seniors
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Republican Party has entered the health care debate on Capitol Hill with a new television commercial that blasts the congressional bills for rationing care. The ad is meant to reach seniors who are concerned about the quality of life and "death panels" components of the bills.

Schindler Family, Pro-Life Advocates Pay Respects to Terri Schiavo's Father
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The Schindler family and pro-life advocates are paying their respects to Robert Schindler, the father of Terri Schiavo -- the woman whose life and death has been a rallying cry to protect the disabled. Schindler and his family have taken it upon themselves to help other disabled patients and their families.

Terri Schiavo's Father Robert Schindler Dies, Pro-Life Group Mourns His Death
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Robert Schindler, the father of Terri Schiavo, whose former husband subjected her to a painful 13-day starvation and dehydration death, died overnight. Schindler, 72, had been battling health issues and he died of apparent heart failure.

Human Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Stopped Due to Animal Problems
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- More information is coming to light about why the Food and Drug Administration has made the decision to stop human trials involving embryonic stem cells. The reasons mirror the concerns pro-life advocates have had for years with the research, which has yet to help any patients.

Scientists Head Towards Creating Baby With Three Parents to Eliminate Disease
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The latest news from the world of genetic manipulation comes from scientists who are conducting research on monkeys that they say could lead to the birth of a human being with three parents in order to eliminate the possibility of inheriting and genes that could cause certain diseases or conditions.

Health Care "Reform" Bills Would Exacerbate Death Panels Already in Texas
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The government-run health care bills in Congress have come under criticism from those who say they would establish "death panels" or give doctors financial incentives to promote rationed health care or euthanasia. In Texas, where that is already happening, critics say the legislation would make it worse.

Terri Schiavo's Brother Condemns Pro-Euthanasia Veterans End-of-Life Guide
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The brother of Terri Schiavo, the disabled woman whose former husband subjected her to a painful 13-day starvation and dehydration death, is speaking out against a guide the Obama administration is distributing to veterans that critics say promotes euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Pro-Life Group Asks Obama Admin to Drop Veterans Guide Promoting Euthanasia
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life legal group is calling on the Obama administration to drop a guide the Department of Veterans Affairs is currently promoting that some say advocates euthanasia. Obama officials have revived a guide called "Your Life, Your Choices" first published in the Clinton administration.

South Korea Seeks Prison Term for Stem Cell Research Fraud Hwang Woo-suk
Seoul, South Korea (LifeNews.com) -- South Korea officials told a court on Monday that they want disgraced embryonic stem cell research scientist Hwang Woo-suk to face four years for allegedly engaging in fraud. Hwang became an international embarrassment after he admitted to faking supposed advances in the science that involves the destruction of human life.

Senator Wants Hearings on Obama Admin Veterans Guide Promoting Euthanasia
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A senator says he wants Congress to hold hearings on a new Obama administration document that some say promotes euthanasia. The Department of Veterans Affairs have revived a guide called "Your Life, Your Choices" that was first published during the Clinton administration.

Catholic Medical Association Opposes Health Care Bill Over End-of-Life Section
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Catholic Medical Association has announced that it opposes the government-run health care bills in Congress because the House version contains a section that could promote assisted suicide and rationing. The end-of-life counseling portion of the bill has proven extremely controversial.

Pro-Life Lawsuit Filed to Stop Obama's Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life legal group has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the controversial guidelines the National Institutes of Health used to implement President Barack Obama's decision to force taxpayers to finance embryonic stem cell research.

Pro-Life Doctors: End-of-Life Counseling is Good, But Government Can't Dictate
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A physician who leads a national organization for Christian doctors say there is nothing wrong with end-of-life counseling, but they are worried about how the government-run health care bills implement it. The House bill's provisions have been labeled "death panels" because they could encourage assisted suicide or health care rationing.

FDA Delays Geron's Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Trials, Seeks Data
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Food and drug Administration is delaying a bid by biotech company Geron to become the first to conduct human trials with embryonic stem cells. The move is drawing applause from pro-life advocates who oppose the use of the cells because they involve the destruction of human life to obtain.

AARP Loses 60,000 Members by Supporting Pro-Rationing Health Care Agenda
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's largest organization for seniors is losing members thanks to its support of a health care agenda that includes rationing health care. Although the group has not technically endorsed the House and Senate bills specifically, it has put enough of its imprimatur on them that President Barack Obama wrongly said AARP endorsed the bills in a recent town hall forum.

Australia Man Wins Right to Starve Himself to Death, Could Lead to Assisted Suicide
Perth, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- An Australian man has won the legal right to starve himself to death in a court decision that could someday lead to making the nation the next to legalize assisted suicide. Christian Rossiter became a quadriplegic after an automobile accident and now he wants to end his life.

North Country Gazette, June Maxam Attacks LifeNews.com on Terri Schiavo
In today's political culture, exploitation has unfortunately become more common. Unfortunately, we're seeing it again with the tragedy of the euthanasia death of Terri Schiavo.

• Responding to attacks