News on ethics in medicine and biotechnology: September 2003France debates euthanasia ban as quadriplegic diesFrance resisted calls to reform its ban on euthanasia after the death on Friday of a paralysed, blinded and mute accident victim whose plea to let his mother end his life captured the heart of a nation. 26 September 2003, Reuters (recast from Le Figaro) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) GM? No thanks, say papersThe outcome of the public consultation on genetically modified crops is one of the more prominent stories in Thursday's papers. 25 September 2003, BBC Online (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Gender Selection Unlikely to Skew Girl/Boy RatioMost Germans are not concerned about the sex of their children but the majority of Britons would prefer to have an equal number of boys and girls, a German scientist said on Thursday. 25 Septembert 2003, Reuters.comt (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Anger as fatal jab doctor freedA father has called the legal system "ridiculous" after the doctor responsible for the injection which killed his son walked free from jail. 23 September 2003, BBC Online (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Ban cloning babies, demand world's top scientistsCloning babies should be banned worldwide by the United Nations, more than 60 of the world's leading scientific academies demanded on Monday. 22 September 2003, New Scientist (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Legal grey area delays GM crop decisionDecisions on the commercial growing of genetically modified crops cannot be taken until next year at the earliest, because environmental and legal rules have yet to be worked out, the government said yesterday. 22 September 2003, The Guardian (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) GM plans attacked after 'leak'Campaigners have attacked the government after a newspaper reports it plans to back EU rules allowing commercial growing of genetically-modified crops. 21 September 2003, BBC News Online (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Delayed decision on Helsinki declarationThe World Medical Association (WMA) wrapped its annual assembly last week without deciding whether to make controversial changes to the part of the Declaration of Helsinki that deals with the obligation to continue treating clinical trial participants after a study is over. 19 September 2003, SciDev.net (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) UK stem cell bank ready to goThe facilities for research-grade stem cells at the UK's stem cell bank are ready for use, but it will be several months before the same can be said of facilities for lines for therapeutic purposes, a London-based conference heard this week. 18 September 2003, The Scientist (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Sorting out epidermal stem cellsIdentification and isolation of proliferative keratinocytes for use as therapeutic agents. 17 September 2003, The Scientist (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) New research alliance for BarcelonaThree major Barcelona research institutes have announced they are forming a biomedical alliance, which is expected to make up a powerful center for research in southern Europe. 15 Septembert 2003, The Scientist (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Red tape 'harming cancer patients'Increasing amounts of red tape are leading to crucial delays in getting drugs into the clinic, medical charity Cancer Research UK says. 11 September 2003, BBC Online (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) EU Court OKs Genetically Modified Food BanThe European Union's high court ruled Tuesday that Italy and other EU governments can temporarily ban genetically modified foods while they examine health risks, but must provide "detailed grounds," not general fears, to do so. The decision by the European Court of Justice was another blow for
biotech companies trying to sell genetically modified products to a
skeptical Europe. The United States, Canada and Argentina are challenging
an EU moratorium on such products at the World Trade Organization. 10 September 2003, AgBios News (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) DFG calls for gene bankGermany's independent science funding agency, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; German Research Foundation), has given the ethical and legal "green light" for establishing a gene bank in the country. The recommendations came in a report on predictive genetic diagnostics released last week (September 2) by the DFG's Senate Commission on Genetic Research. 10 September 2003, The Scientist (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) GM bacteria to battle HIVScientists have engineered bacteria that are normally present in the vagina to attack HIV. They say their findings could lead to an effective and cheap way of tackling the spread of the virus in both developed and developing nations. 10 September 2003, SciDev.net (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Italy must prove health risk to keep GMO banA national government in the European Union may temporarily restrict or suspend the marketing of genetic modified foods. This was the decision of the Judges in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, today (9 September) ruling in a case brought to Court by the biotech giant Monsanto against the Italian government. 9 September 2003, EUobserver.com (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Both sides claim win in Monsanto vs Italy GMO caseBoth sides in a row over genetically modified (GMO) foods claimed victory on Tuesday when the European Union's top court ruled that Italy had the right to ban GMO maize (corn) if it can show grounds to suspect it is a health risk. 9 September 2003, AgBios News (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Public panels concerned by GMTwo "citizen's juries" have said the moratorium on the use of genetically modified crops in the UK should continue. The juries, made up of 30 members of the public, said the possible health and environmental impact of GM crops were still such a concern that commercial planting should not yet go ahead. 8 September 2003, BBC News Online (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Brussels blocks Austrian attempt to create GM-free zoneThe European commission has blocked the first attempt by an EU region to turn itself into a statutory GM-free zone. Upper Austria wanted a total ban on cultivating genetically modified crops to protect conventional and organic crops, as well as wildlife, from potential contamination. Yesterday the commission refused, arguing Austria had presented no new scientific evidence to support such a ban, and could not opt out of EU-wide rules anyway. 3 September 2003, The Guardian International (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) Immigrants 'face higher health risks'Immigrant populations in the UK are at higher risk from mental and physical illness, a study commissioned by the Department of Health has suggested. 28 August 2003, BBC Online (UK) (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) NHS 'should offer free IVF'Most infertile couples should not have to pay for IVF treatment, a government watchdog has recommended. Draft guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that at least three "attempts" should be paid for by the NHS. 26 September 2003, BBC Online (Submitted by SIBLE, UK) |
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