22 February 2008
USA - HIV Vaccine Research Hits Impasse
Scientists are no further forward in developing a vaccine against HIV after more than 20 years of research, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist has said. Professor David Baltimore, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), said there was little hope among scientists. He said that HIV had evolved a way to protect itself from the human immune system. "This is a huge challenge, because to control HIV immunologically, the scientific community has to beat out nature, do something that nature… has not been able to do," Prof Baltimore said. "I believe that HIV has found ways to totally fool the immune system. Among the novel techniques that scientists are turning to are gene and stem cell therapy, although these are still in their infancy. In the human body you really only have one shot which is to try to change genes in stem cells," said Prof Baltimore, one of the leading experts on the HIV virus. ...[more]
USA, South Africa Anti-HIV Drug Trial Produces Mixed Results
The findings of Phase 3 of a clinical trial on a formula called Carraguard, a microbicide gel made from the seaweed derivative carrageenan was announced. The announcement was made by the Population Council from both New York City and Johannesburg, South Africa. Carraguard has proven to be effective against the spread of HIV in laboratory settings but didn’t produce the same results when used on humans in this phase of trials. While not effective in preventing infection from HIV, Carraguard did prove to be safe for vaginal use. Product developers will continue to use it, along with data collected from this trial, in the hope of perfecting a safe but more effective product in the future. In the Population Council’s trial, which studied male-to-female HIV transmission via vaginal intercourse, one group of women was given condoms and Carraguard gel to use when engaging in sexual activities and a control group received an inert gel and condoms. The rate of infection was almost identical in each group. ...[more]
Canada - Crusade to Quell a Gruesome Trade
Ontario MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj has introduced a ground-breaking piece of legislation aimed at deterring Canadians from undergoing organ transplants involving organs that were purchased or stolen. The C-500 Bill will make it illegal for Canadians to get an organ transplant abroad if the organ was purchased or taken from an unwilling victim. The legislation would require each organ recipient to prove their organ was obtained ethically from a willing donor. This is the first piece of legislation that specifically addresses the horror of illegal harvesting and trafficking of organs and body parts. He said that the lack of legislation and increasing reports around the world of organ trafficking or harvesting (killing people for their organs) pushed him to draft the bill. Bill C-500 aims to treat organ theft or trafficking as a very serious crime, on a level with murder. Minimum sentences are five years and the maximum is life. ...[more]
International - Ethicists, Philosophers Discuss Selling of Human Organs
There is an international shortage of kidneys for transplantation. In the USA 73000 people are on waiting lists to receive a kidney. Yet 4000 die every year before the lifesaving organ is available. Worldwide, about 66000 kidney transplants are performed annually – way too slow to help an estimated 1 million people who have end-stage renal disease. This presents a dilemma in creating a balance between the needs of patients for whom “life hangs in the balance” and the possible exploitation of poor and vulnerable people whose organ now have a monetary value. Even in the face of desperate illness, there are moral standards to protect, said the former chief ethicist for the World Health Organization. But “with life hanging in the balance,” said Prof Daniel Wikler of organ markets, “we need very convincing moral reasons to get in the way.” WHO have taken stands against commercialized kidney transplantation. ...[more]
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Belgium - Euthanasia on the Rise
In the past year, Belgian cases of euthanasia have risen by 15% - and that is thought under-reported. The number of last year’s reported euthanasia deaths was 1000, although estimates put the figure at about 2000. Most cases were in Flanders. Wesley J. Smith notes that ‘not coincidentally, a few years ago, a Lancet study found that about 8% of all babies who die in Flanders are killed by doctors. That is what happens when killing is deemed an acceptable answer to human suffering.
http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/de.redactie.english/news/080214_euthanasie. ...[more]
USA – Judge Recuses Himself from Assisted Suicide Trial
In the trial of accused murderer John Roberts, the judge has recused himself from the trial. Roberts is accused of shooting his wife in the head as she slept. He claims she was suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease and asked to be killed. However, a post-mortem found she was healthy. In court, Roberts looked emotionless as he pled not guilty and said, “I’m sorry she’s gone.” Judge Henry Kantor recused himself, saying his father suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease and died of it a few years ago. A new judge should be instated soon.
http://www.koin.com/Global/story.asp?S=7861917
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Japan - Induced Pluripotent Stems Cells Don’t Cause Cancer.
Clearing a huge hurdle on the road to embryo-free stem cell treatments, Professor Shinya Yamanaka announced that his team has found a way to grow induced Pluripotent cells (iPS) without triggering tumours. Since Yamanaka first went public with his iPS research in December 2007, the scientific community has been largely supportive of his work because of its promise both medically and morally. Some of the remaining holdouts for embryonic stem cell (ESC) research have used the threat of tumours to downplay his progress. However, Yamanaka's team took a gigantic leap forward in silencing critics with the news that he has successfully avoided this problem for six months in the mice that he is currently treating with iPS cells. ...[more]
South Korea - Company Begins Commercial Pet Dog Cloning
A South Korean biotechnology company, RNL Bio has begun commercial dog cloning, local media said. The company has already received its first order from a U.S. woman who is ready to pay $150,000 to clone her pet pit bull terrier, Booger, who saved her life when another dog attacked her and ripped off her arm. To clone the dog, scientists will use frozen cells, taken from the dead dog's ear tissue. The cells will later be impregnated into eight bitches, with a success rate of 1 in 4 dogs producing puppies. The project, if successful, will be the first example of commercial dog cloning. ...[more]
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United Kingdom - Does Paedophile Plan Go Far Enough?
The mother of Sarah Payne, whose daughter was murdered by a paedophile, has welcomed a new pilot scheme to identify sex offenders. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced the scheme, which has been hailed as a victory in the long-running campaign for "Sarah's Law". The campaign was named after eight-year-old Sarah, who was murdered in 2000 by Roy Whiting. He had previously spent time in prison for the indecent assault of a girl. Under "Sarah's Law", parents will be able to check whether people who have unsupervised access to their children have convictions for child sex crimes. The scheme will also allow single mothers to ask police whether potential boyfriends have child sex convictions. Family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked. Police and probation services will have discretion on what information is revealed but it is understood that if children are thought to be at risk that parents and carers will be told. ...[more]
Spain - Police Post Pictures of Pederasts on Internet
Spanish police have posted pictures of pederasts on their website for the first time, appealing to the public to help to identify them. The pictures show the faces of three men, who were believed to be from North America, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The photos were taken from videos showing sexual abuse of children. In October last year, Canadian paedophile suspect Christopher Paul Neil was captured in Thailand after Interpol made his picture public. Spanish police meanwhile detained 26 people all over the country on charges of distributing child pornography over the Internet. ...[more]
USA - Tarra's Law Moves Forward
The Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed legislation that would give prosecuting attorneys the authority to raise bail in cases concerning sexually violent predators. The bill would require an open court hearing to be held within 48 hours after a sexually violent predator is arrested and before bail is set. "The need for this bill came after a teenage girl, Tarra Pickett, was murdered near Cambridge City in May 2007. The individual accused of Tarra's death was found to have been previously convicted of rape in 1982. He was also out on a $5,000 bond for an unrelated case that involved three counts of molestation. The legislation would apply specifically to those arrested for a sexually violent offence, which include rape, sexual misconduct, sexual or human trafficking and sexually deviant behaviour. The accused would be subject to a background check to determine the likelihood of repeat offences. The legislation also would apply to those arrested for child molestation or solicitation, regardless of past offences. ...[more]
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USA - American Public Health Association Backs Partial Birth Abortion
The American Public Health Association (APHA) announced a range of policies that were approved by the Association's Governing Council. Among the generally positive health policy initiatives is a call for the removal of all restrictions that limit access to abortion in the US. The carefully worded policy on abortion states: "The APHA urges state lawmakers to repeal or oppose state laws that in any way limit access to safe abortion services, including mandatory delays and information or counselling that is not science-based; bans on specific abortion procedures, parental consent or notification requirements; targeted regulation of abortion providers; and limits for advanced practice clinicians in providing abortion services. It supports state laws that improve abortion access, including funding for abortion via state Medicaid funds and protecting health facilities and clinicians that provide abortion services". This APHA abortion policy is a response to the April, 2007 US Supreme Court decision to uphold the federal law banning a specific abortion procedure, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. ...[more]
USA - Odd Alliance Opposes Abortion Bill
Planned Parenthood, found itself pitted against many of its pro-choice allies when it proposed a new abortion bill which would require a girl under the age of 17 to have a counselling session with a doctor, nurse or other licensed professional before obtaining an abortion. Under the bill, the girl would have to sign a document attesting that she had counselling. The bill comes as legislators weigh Republican efforts to bring back a law requiring that parents be notified before their minor daughter's abortion. Opponents argued, amongst other things, that the bill would put health care workers in a role that should be played by a girl's parents. ...[more]
USA - Missouri Conscience Bill Seeks to Reclassify MAP as Abortifacient
A bill introduced into the Missouri House of Representatives seeks to protect pharmacists from civil and criminal liability for refusing to dispense the morning after pill by stating that no pharmacists should be required to assist in an abortion. What is especially unique about House Bill 1625, as compared to other conscience legislation that has been introduced, is that the bill, if passed, would officially reclassify the morning after pill as an Abortifacient. The text of the bill states: "No licensed pharmacy in this state shall be required to perform, assist, recommend, refer to, or participate in any act or service in connection with any drug or device that is an Abortifacient, including but not limited to the RU486 drug and emergency contraception such as the Plan B drug." At present the FDA does not classify the morning after pill as an Abortifacient, but only as a contraceptive. ...[more]
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USA - Children of Sperm Donors also Have Rights
In New Jersey, the state Senate has twice voted to give adopted children access to their original birth certificates, that is, to the names of their biological mothers. Birth mothers would have one year to notify the state that they wish to remain anonymous. Even so, such birth mothers would be compelled by government to provide social, cultural and health information, or else their identities would be released regardless of their consent. If children have a right to know their own biological parents, -- a claim recognized in international human rights law --, there is no good reason to limit this claim to the small number of women who accept the agonizing burden of giving life to children they cannot raise. Far more children these days are deprived of knowledge of their origins by a totally different process: artificial insemination. If New Jersey legislators are going to impose the aforementioned requirements for adopted children the same requirements should apply to children conceived through artificial insemination and both parents should have to comply in the best interests of the child. ...[more]
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