BIOETHICS NEWS AND ISSUES

Terri Schiavo's Brother Lauds Study Showing PVS Patients Have Brain Activity
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The brother of Terri Schiavo, the disabled woman whose husband won authority form a court to take her life, responded positively to a new study showing researchers using a novel technology to establish limited communication with patients in so-called persistent vegetative states.

Pope Benedict XVI Headed to Scotland, Urges Opposition to Assisted Suicide Bill
Glasgow, Scotland (LifeNews.com) -- Pope Benedict XVI is headed to Scotland where he will urge members of the Scottish Parliament to oppose a bill that would legalize assisted suicide. The head of the Catholic Church told Scottish bishops today that euthanasia "strikes at the very heart" of Christianity.

South Dakota Senate Defeats Bid to Overturn Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- The South Dakota legislature has defeated legislation designed to overturn the state's ban on embryonic stem cell research -- which has scientists killing unborn children for their stem cells. With the legislative defeat the backer of a state ballot proposal to do the same thing may revive his effort.

Biothicist Wesley J. Smith: New Brain Study Has Bearing on Terri Schiavo Case
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Top bioethicist Wesley J. Smith says the new study showing active brain activity in patients who are supposedly in a vegetative state or a minimally conscious state has a bearing on the Terri Schiavo case. He says the judge who allowed her husband to kill her should have ordered similar tests.

Study Finds Patients Thought to be in "Vegetative State" Have Active Brain Activity
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A new study finds that patients who are supposedly in a "vegetative state" have active brain activity. The study includes one patient who was able to respond to basic questions with affirmative yes and no answers despite having the dehumanizing term applied to his medical condition.

South Dakota Panel Hears Bill Monday on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- A South Dakota legislative panel will hold a hearing on Monday on legislation that would overturn the state's ban on tax-funding of embryonic stem cell research. While adult stem cells have already helped patients facing more than 100 diseases and conditions, embryonic stem cells have never been as successful.

Scientists' Advance Further Renders Embryonic Stem Cell Research Obsolete
Palo Alto, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Scientists have made a major breakthrough using the process known as direct reprogramming that further renders embryonic stem cell research obsolete. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have succeeded in transforming mouse skin cells directly into functional nerve cells.

Canadian Judge Rules Medical Care For Baby Isaiah Can Continue For Now
Edmonton, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A Canadian judge has ruled that medical care and treatment for Baby Isaiah can continue for now while attorneys re-examine what has turned into a controversial case of potential euthanasia. Baby Isaiah was born in October and suffered severe oxygen deprivation.

Canadian Parents Fight Hospital to Not Withdraw Life Support in Futile Care Case
Edmonton, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Canadian parents are fighting a hospital in the latest futile care case to gain attention. Such cases involve medical centers that want to terminate treatment in supposedly hopeless cases and this one has involves an infant named Isaiah, whose parents are fighting a hospital seeking to unilaterally remove treatment.

Terri Schiavo Family Benefit Concert Features Randy Travis, Collin Raye
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The family of Terri Schiavo, the disabled woman whose husband killed her by depriving her of food and water, will sponsor a benefit concert to raise funds for its foundation to help other patients like her. The show will feature popular country music recording artists Randy Travis and Collin Raye.

New Hampshire Defeats Assisted Suicide Bill OKing it for State Residents, Others
Concord, NH (LifeNews.com) -- The New Hampshire House of Representatives defeat a bill on Wednesday that would have made the state the fourth to legalize assisted suicide. Oregon, Washington and Montana already allow the practice and the New Hampshire bill would have targeted the elderly and terminally ill as well.

Final Exit Network Activist Pleads Guilty to Killing Woman in Assisted Suicide
Phoenix, AZ (LifeNews.com) -- A member of the Final Exit Network assisted suicide ring that resulted in the deaths of multiple people from illegal assisted suicides had pleaded guilty in one case. Wye Hale-Rowe was one of the people allegedly involved in an assisted suicide case in Arizona.

South Dakota Legislature May Vote on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding Ban
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) -- The South Dakota state legislature may vote again this year on legislation that would overturn the state's ban on taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. While adults tem cells have already helped patients facing more than 100 diseases and conditions, embryonic stem cells have never been as successful.

NIH Director Promotes Politics Over Adult Stem Cell Research, Sound Science
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In a new opinion column appearing the magazine Science, NIH director Francis Collins appears to put politics over science. In a list of five "opportunities for research," Collins promotes embryonic stem cell research but ignores the adult variety already helping patients.

Scotland Pro-Life Advocates Launch Bid to Stop Debate on Assisted Suicide Bill
Glasgow, Scotland (LifeNews.com) -- Scotland pro-life advocates have launched a new effort with the hope of preventing a debate on a bill in the Scottish Parliament that would legalize assisted suicide. An MSP sponsoring the bill hoped the parliament in Scotland will debate her measure.

Dutch Euthanasia Deaths Up Significantly to 2,500, Number Still Underreported
Amsterdam, (LifeNews.com) -- The number of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands rose significantly in 2009 compared with 2008. There were reportedly 200 more deaths under the law, but pro-life advocates say those numbers are likely lowball estimates given the underreporting in the Dutch system.

Pro-Life Advocates: Montana Assisted Suicide Decision Could Have Been Worse
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- Reaction is coming in form pro-life advocates responding to today's decision by the Montana Supreme Court that determined there is no right to assisted suicide but saying it is allowed under state law. The pro-life activists say the decision is definitely bad but could have been worse.

Montana Supreme Court Makes State Third to Allow Unlimited Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- The Montana Supreme Court has officially paved the way for the state to become the third to allow the practice of assisted suicide. The high court considered a case from a now-deceased terminally ill patient who wanted the right to kill himself with assistance from a physician.

Scientists: Embryonic Stem Cell Research Showing Little Progress 28 Years Later
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In the 28 years that scientists have been toying with embryonic stem cells in animals and humans, not one human patient has even been treated. Despite President Barack Obama forcing taxpayers to fund the research, that destroys human life, scientists don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Pioneering Adult Stem Cell Treatment Helps Man Recover Sight After 15 Years
London, England (Lifenews.com) -- A man who was partially blinded when ammonia was squirted in his eye during an attack 15 years ago has regained his sight after receiving a pioneering stem cell treatment, according to a London Guardian report.

Senators Challenge Health Care Bill Section Making Death Panels Permanent
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Two pro-life senators plan to raise a constitutional challenge to a section of the Senate health care bill that makes the infamous "death panels" permanent. They say it is unconstitutional to pass a law that prevents Congress from overturning the law at a later point.

Obama Admin Forces Americans to Pay for More Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration on Monday forced Americans to pay for another round of embryonic stem cell research involving the destruction of human life. National Institutes of Health chief Francis Collins approved taxpayer funding of 27 more lines of embryonic stem cells.

British Pro-Life Disabled Rights Campaigner to Challenge Supreme Court Ruling
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The following update comes from John Smeaton, the head of the British pro-life group SPUC: Alison Davis, the well-known pro-life disabled rights advocate, is heading a challenge to July's House of Lords judgment in favor of Debbie Purdy, the assisted suicide campaigner.

Pro-Life Groups Disappointed Obama Admin Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration's announcement yesterday that it will for taxpayers to spend $12 million to fund embryonic stem cell research isn't going over well with pro-life groups. They say the decision funds the destruction of human life and takes away from successful adult stem cell studies.

Obama Administration OKs First Taxpayer-Funded Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Obama administration today authorized the first study using embryonic stem cells paid for at taxpayer expense. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama issued an executive order overturning President Bush's limits preventing taxpayers from being forced to pay for the destruction of human life.

Barack Obama Establishes New Presidential Bioethics Council, Could Push Cloning
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has established a new presidential bioethics council that will features advisors who could push his decision to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research even further. They could advise Obama that his administration should push human cloning.

Euthanasia Backers Discount Rom Houben, Man Who Spoke After False "Coma"
Brussels, Belgium (LifeNews.com) -- No sooner did Rom Houben make international headlines than skeptics and euthanasia advocates attempt to discredit the story of a man who says he was falsely tagged as being in a coma for 23 years. Houben has been embraced by those who say physicians are too quick to label patients as in a vegetative state.

Canadian Backer of Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide Postpones Debate to 2010
Otawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- MP Francine Lalonde apparently needs more time to gather votes for her bill to legalize assisted suicide as the member of the Canadian Parliament has postponed the debate on her legislation a third time. The bill, C-384, was originally scheduled for a debate and vote last week.

Senate Health Care Bill Contains Rationing Provisions, Pro-Life Group Warns
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The health care bill that Senate leader Harry Reid introduced, and that the chamber will begin debating next week, contains massive abortion funding. But a leading pro-life group says the measure also contains provisions that threaten to ration lifesaving medical treatment for seniors.

Tennessee Hospital Faces Emergency Order Over Revoking Care for 9-Month Baby
Knoxville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- A Tennessee hospital is facing a possible emergency injunction after Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed legal papers today to save the life of nine-month-old Gabriel Palmer. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital says it may abandon his medical care, resulting in the child's death.

Man in Supposed 23-Year-Long Coma Speaks, Says He Was Always Conscious
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- After he was the victim of an automobile accident, doctors said 23-year-old Rom Houben was in a comatose state and unable to communicate with those around him. Now, 23 years later, the 46-year-old says he felt trapped as he was conscious the entire time and attempted to communicate.

University of Nebraska Regents Defeat Effort to Limit Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) -- The University of Nebraska board of regents today defeated an effort to limit the embryonic stem cell research activity that takes place there because it involves the destruction of unborn human life. The current school policy is to engage in research allowed by the federal government, which includes ESCR.

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.

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