BIOETHICS NEWS AND ISSUES

Study Finds Adult Stem Cells, Not Embryonic, Best Suited for Repairing Muscle
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new study involving researchers from Maryland and Indiana finds that adult stem cells, not embryonic, are best suited for damaged and diseased muscle. The new research, published in the medial journal Nature, involved experiments in mice.

Switzerland Govt May Ban Assisted Suicide Clinics, Would Affect Suicide Tourism
Zurich, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) -- The Switzerland government is considering a proposal that would ban the assisted suicide clinics run by the pro-euthanasia group Dignitas. The move would end the practice of so-called suicide tourism and move the European nation out of the category with Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Michigan Lawmakers Prepare Bills to Monitor Proposal 2, Pro-Life Groups Support
Lansing, MI (LifeNews.com) -- When Michigan voters approved Proposal 2 last November, pro-life groups were concerned that it could lead to problems and unethical biotech practices. To respond to those concerns, state legislators introduced the Embryo Research and Fertility Clinic Transparency Act last week.

Pro-Life Group Condemns Defeat of Amendment to Stop Health Care Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The leading pro-life group working to get members of the Senate to add an amendment to the Kennedy health care bill to stop rationing is upset that lawmakers voted against the amendment on Monday. Rationing of health care could involve cutting off lifesaving medical treatment and resulting in euthanasia.

Senate Committee Defeats Pro-Life Amendment to Stop Health Care Rationing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate HELP Committee on Monday defeated a pro-life amendment that would help stop the rationing of health care in the Kennedy restructuring bill. The amendment concerned the section on comparative effectiveness research, which pro-life advocates say prompt euthanasia concerns.

Canada Pro-Life Advocates Asking for More Calls to Oppose Assisted Suicide Bill
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- A Canadian pro-life group is urging euthanasia opponents to step up their efforts to oppose a bill in Parliament that would legalize assisted suicide. LifeCanada says it is opposed to legalizing assisted suicide because it would target elderly and disabled patients with death instead of care and treatment.

New York Stem Cell Research Board Agrees to Pay for Women's Eggs for Science
Albany, NY (LifeNews.com) -- The Empire State Stem Cell Board has agreed to a new plan, that has been soundly criticized by pro-life advocates, using taxpayer funds to pay women who allow for the extraction of their eggs for research purposes. The board will use money from the $600 million in state taxpayer funds it oversees.

New Video Surfaces Showing Sonia Sotomayor Discussing Assisted Suicide Issues
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new video has surfaced showing Supreme Court candidate Sonia Sotomayor participating in a September 2000 panel discussion of end-of-life issues. As has been the case with abortion, the video doesn't appear to allow an easy discernment of where she stands on assisted suicide or euthanasia.

New York Stem Cell Research Plan Bashed, Exploits Women for Research Eggs
Albany, NY (LifeNews.com) -- The Empire State Stem Cell Board, charged with overseeing $600 million in state taxpayer funds for stem cell research, is expected to issue a recommendation Thursday that the state use taxpayer funds to pay women who allow for the extraction of their eggs for research purposes.

British House of Lords to Begin Debate on Assisted Suicide Tourism Amendment
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The British House of Lords is slated to begin debate on an amendment from Lord Falconer, the former Attorney General, to make it easier for Britons to engage in assisted suicide. The amendment would repeal the already-raddled law that prevents suicide tourism.

Washington State Olympic Medical Center Changes Position on Assisted Suicide
Port Angeles, WA (LifeNews.com) -- Olympic Medical Center in Washington state has changed its position on whether staff and patients will be allowed to pursue an assisted suicide. The decision is a modification of its original one to opt out of participating in the law that made Washington the second state to legalize assisted suicide.

Nancy Pelosi Misleads on Embryonic Stem Cell Research at Reagan Statue Event
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave a speech at the unveiling of a statue of President Ronald Reagan today on Capital Hill. However, she couldn't resist injecting divisive politics into her speech about a president regarded as strongly pro-life.

Ohio House Passes Bill Supporting Umbilical Cord Blood Banking, Donation
Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- The Ohio legislature took a step to help promote adult stem cell research on Wednesday when it approved a bill concerning umbilical cord blood. The Ohio state House, by a vote of 97 to 0, approved H.B. 102 to have the state government promote the ethical research alternative.

British Woman Debbie Purdy Takes Assisted Suicide Case to House of Lords
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Debbie Purdy, a Briton who wants her husband not to go to prison for taking her to a Swiss euthanasia center, is taking her case to the House of Lords. The body will consider whether to overturn the ruling of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

NIH Reviewing Comments on Obama Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Institutes of Health is reviewing tens of thousands of public comments submitted about its plan to implement President Barack Obama's decision to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The public had just over one month to submit comments for or against its plan.

Minnesota Pro-Life Group Asks University of Minnesota to Stop Human Cloning
St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) -- A Minnesota pro-life group is calling on officials at the University of Minnesota to stop pursuing human cloning experiments. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life says the college is violating state law by conducting research involving the destruction of human embryos, days-old unborn children.

British Pro-Life Group Opposes Amendment to Bill Legalizing Assisted Suicide
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A British pro-life group is worried that an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill in the House of Lords would have the effect of legalizing assisted suicide. Britain has been the next place for euthanasia advocates to promote their agenda by legalizing assisted suicide and targeting the elderly and disabled.

Al Pacino May Star in Movie Glorifying Assisted Suicide Advocate Jack Kevorkian
Hollywood, CA (LifeNews.com) -- Actor Al Pacino is reportedly in current negotiations to star in a new HBO Films movie glorifying the life of assisted suicide crusader Jack Kevorkian. The retired pathologist became the scourge of the nation when he embarked on a campaign claiming to kill more than 125 people in assisted suicides.

Final NIH Comments on Embryonic Stem Cell Research From Pro-Life Attorneys
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- An organization of pro-life attorneys submitted some of the final comments to the National Institutes of Health on the new rules it plans to adopt to implement President Barack Obama's decision to overturn the protections against forcing taxpayers to find embryonic stem cell research.

Dignitas Assisted Suicide Clinic in Switzerland Probed, Killed Man With Depression
Zurich, Switzerland (LifeNews.com) -- The Dignitas assisted suicide facility in Switzerland is coming under investigation for allegedly killing a man with depression. Under the euthanasia law in Switzerland, someone can only be killed in an assisted suicide if they suffer from a terminal illness.

Catholic Bishops Tell Obama Admin NIH Stem Cell research Guidelines Flawed
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops have sent a memo to the administration of President Barack Obama concerning the new NIH guidelines. The rules are meant to put Obama's executive order, overturning the Bush protections against forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research, into place.

Pro-Life Advocates: Washington Assisted Suicide Death Shows Pain Control Need
Olympia, WA (LifeNews.com) -- Leading national and statewide pro-life advocates are disappointed by the news that the first person has died under the assisted suicide law in Washington state. They say more must be done to help patients with pain control and management, which is the listed reason for the first death.

Washington Sees First Person Die Under Second-in-Nation Assisted Suicide Law
Olympia, WA (LifeNews.com) -- Washington has now seen the first person die under state's the second-in-the-nation law legalizing the practice of assisted suicide. A 66-year-old woman from Sequim named Linda Fleming died Thursday night after taking a lethal cocktail prescribed to her by a physician under the law.

Gallup Poll: Support Dropping for Abortion, Cloning, Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- As part of a new national poll that showed support for abortion at its lowest level in 15 years, the recent Gallup survey also examined where Americans stand on other moral issues such as human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. The poll found support for those practices lowering as well.

Texas Senate Initially Approves Bill to Create Adult Stem Cell Research Consortium
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- The Texas state Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that would create the Adult Stem Cell Research Consortium, which would encourage collaboration between researchers at Texas universities and cord blood banks. This body would oversee funding for adult stem cell research received from both public and private sectors.

Oppose Obama Overturning Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Limits? Respond Soon
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- For the millions of Americans who oppose President Barack Obama's decision to overturn the limits on forcing taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research, the deadline to respond is coming soon. The public comment period on the decision expires next Tuesday, May 26.

Minnesota Governor Pawlenty Signs Bill to Ban Taxpayer Funding of Human Cloning
St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) -- With the University of Minnesota reportedly pursuing human cloning for research purposes, Gov. Tim Pawlenty this weekend signed a bill that would ban taxpayer funding of the grisly practice. Signing the bill is the Minnesota governor's latest move that has earned him respect with the pro-life community.

University of Wisconsin Hospital Sued for Denying Disabled Patients Medical Care
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- The University of Wisconsin Hospital faces a new lawsuit from disability rights advocates for allegedly withdrawing treatment from two patients with developmental disabilities. The patients had apparent cases of pneumonia, but one of them survived and another died after supposed medical neglect.

Obama Pushes Embryonic Stem Cell Research at Notre Dame, Ignores Adult Cells
South Bend, IN (LifeNews.com) -- During his graduation speech at the University of Notre Dame, President Barack Obama pushed embryonic stem cell research for juvenile diabetes. However, Obama appeared to ignore that research scientists have already had tremendous success using adult stem cells.

Texas Medical Groups Halting Reform Bill to Stop Pro-Euthanasia Futile Care Law
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- Medical groups in Texas are drawing the ire of pro-life advocates because they are pushing a phony bill that is holding up legislation that would reform the futile care law that is pushing euthanasia. The statute allows hospitals and other medical facilities that believe a patient is too far gone to help to give their families just 10 days to find another facility that will offer the treatment or lifesaving medical care.

Canada Parliament Sees Introduction of Bill Today to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A member of the Canadian Parliament officially introduced her legislation today that would legalize assisted suicide in Canada. Francine Lalonde, of the Bloc Quebecois political party, introduced a private members bill to legalize the practice that is allowed in three states in the U.S.

Scientists Use Adult Stem Cells to Fix Tumor Problems of Embryonic Stem Cells
Tokyo, Japan (LifeNews.com) -- Embryonic stem cells have never helped human patients in part because they produce tumors when injected as treatments in animal research. Now, Japanese scientists are relying on the more ethical adult stem cells to curb the problems associated with their embryonic cousins.

Second International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Coming Soon
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When it comes to the end-of-life issues that pro-life advocates fight, it appears momentum is on the side of those who see death as a solution for those who are considered too old or too ill. An international symposium featuring top speakers and activists hopes to turn the tide.

Catholic Bishops Launch Campaign to Oppose Obama Embryonic Stem Cell Plan
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a new campaign to oppose President Barack Obama's plan to force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The National Institutes of Health released public proposed to implement the plan and the Catholic bishops oppose the move.

Scientists in Japan Claim Breakthroughs in Growing Human Organs in Animals
Tokyo, Japan (LifeNews.com) -- Scientists in Japan are claming new breakthroughs in growing human organs in animals, a process that gives credence to the notion that the scary Brave New World has arrived. The researchers are trying to grow human organs in animals as a way to combat the shortage of organs for transplants.

Oregon Pro-Life Group Concerned About Fake Human Cloning Ban's Progress
Salem, OR (LifeNews.com) -- The statewide pro-life group in Oregon is calling on pro-life advocates to take action to stop a bill masquerading as a ban on human cloning. Oregon Right to Life says HB 2598-A not only fails to ban human cloning but allows scientists to clone and kill human embryos for dubious scientific research.

Arlen Specter Blames Pro-Life Science Policies for Death of Jack Kemp
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Fresh from switching from the Republican to the Democratic Party, pro-abortion Sen. Arlen Specter upset pro-life advocates again over the weekend. He blamed the death of pro-life former Congressman and vice-presidential candidate Jack Kemp on pro-life policies that he claimed are anti-science.

Euthanasia Advocate Philip Nitschke May Move to United States From Australia
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Australian euthanasia and advocate Philip Nitschke is considering moving to the United States after British immigration officials rejected his application to move there. Known as the "Doctor Death" of Australia and New Zealand, Nitschke would pose additional problems for pro-life advocates in the U.S.

Terri Schiavo's Family's Radio Program Still Highlighting Threats to Patients
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The family of Terri Schiavo could have done any number of things after their beloved daughter and sister succumbed to a painful starvation and dehydration death. Instead, the started a foundation and radio program to highlight how patients like her are threatened.

Montana Supreme Court Gets More Pro-Life Briefs Against OKing Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- The Montana Supreme Court has received more legal briefs from pro-life groups asking it not to affirm a lower court decision making the state the third to allow assisted suicides. The Christian Legal Society and Christian Medical Association, along with Americans United for Life, weighed in this week.

Scotland Parliament Will Soon Debate MacDonald's Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Edinburgh, Scotland (LifeNews.com) -- The parliament in Scotland will soon debate a bill that would legalize assisted suicide as its sponsor, MSP Margo MacDonald, has secured enough support from colleagues to introduce the measure. MacDonald was guaranteed a debate on her measure as 21 MSPs indicated their support.

Vermont Pro-Life Advocates Rally Against New Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide
Montpelier, VT (LifeNews.com) -- Vermont pro-life advocates are gearing up once again for a battle against legislation that would add the state to the list of those that have legalized assisted suicide. Led by Vermont Right to Life, state residents will participate in a rally in the state capital tomorrow.

Montana Supreme Court Gets Pro-Life Legal Brief Opposing Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- A pro-life legal group has submitted a brief to the Montana Supreme Court asking it to overturn a local judge's decision to overturn the state's ban on assisted suicide. If the state's high court affirms the lower court's ruling, Montana will officially become the third state to allow the practice.

Congressional Bill Could Allow Taxpayer Funding of Human Cloning for Research
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Now that President Barack Obama has overturned the protections President Bush put in place to stop taxpayer funding of new embryonic stem cell research, members of Congress are prepared to go further. They are working on a bill that could allow taxpayer funding of human cloning for research.

Washington State Receives First Two Prescriptions for Drugs for Assisted Suicides
Olympia, WA (LifeNews.com) -- Officials in Washington have received the first two requests under the state's new assisted suicide law for a prescription for deadly drugs to kill patients. In November 2008, residents of Washington voted 58 percent to 42 percent for Initiative 1000 to make it the second after Oregon to legalize the practice.

Catholic Bishops Condemn Obama Admin's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Rules
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Cardinal Justin Rigali, the chairman of the pro-life outreach for the nation's Catholic bishops is condemning the new rules the Obama administration put in place allowing taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. The NIH guidelines come after President Barack Obama issued his executive order overturning the protections President Bush put in place.

Congressional Lawmakers Admit NIH Guidelines a Human Cloning Bait and Switch
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressional lawmakers appear to be admitting that a leading pro-life group was right when it said the new NIH guidelines to implement President Barack Obama's embryonic stem cell research executive order amounted to a bait and switch.

London Times Touts Embryonic Stem Cell Blindness Cure That Hasn't Been Used
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Engaged in media bias and misreporting, the London Times featured a headline on Sunday claiming "Blind to be cured with stem cells." Reading further, embryonic stem cell research has reportedly yielded a cure for blindness, never mind that it has never been tried on humans yet.

British Nurses Want Assisted Suicide Legalized Poll Says, Conflicts With Survey
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll claims a majority of British nurses want the practice of assisted suicide legalized, however the results conflict with a survey conducted earlier this year. The new Independent Nurse survey says two-thirds of primary care nurses support legalizing the practice, but a British nursing web site showed few do.

Texas Lawmakers See Competing Bills to Scrap, Defend 10-Day Futile Care Law
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) -- Texas lawmakers have introduced competing bills that would either scrap or defend the controversial futile care law that has come under national condemnation. The law allows medical facilities to give families just 10 days to find places to care for their loved ones when a medical center refuses treatment.

Groups Partner After Terri Schiavo Death Anniversary for Pro-Life Living Wills
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Following the death of Terri Schiavo, the mainstream media and community groups like AARP promoted the signing of living wills. On the heels of the fourth anniversary of Terri's husband subjecting her to a painful euthanasia death, two pro-life groups are working together to promote a pro-life advanced directive.

Doctor Mehmet Oz Tells Oprah's Audience Embryonic Stem Cell Research Dead
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A recent appearance by Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiovascular surgeon at Columbia University and a regular on Oprah Winfrey's popular eponymous television program, is generating buzz within pro-life circles. During the program, Oz told Americans the truth about embryonic stem cell research.

Montana Doctors, Hospitals, Refusing to Allow Patients to Have Assisted Suicide
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- Like their counterparts in Washington state, a large number of doctors and hospitals in Montana are refusing to engage in assisted suicides. The state is the third to allow the practice -- at least until the Montana Supreme Court reviews a lower court's decision overturning the state's assisted suicide ban.

Georgia's First-in-Nation Embryo Adoption Bill Heads to Governor Sonny Perdue
Atlanta, GA (LifeNews.com) -- The Georgia state House, with a vote of 108 to 61, sent the nation's first-ever embryo adoption bill, HB 388, to the desk of Governor Sonny Perdue for him to sign into law. The Option of Adoption Act helps offer protection for unique human beings who are stored in fertility clinics.

Dignitas Founder Planning Assisted Suicide of Healthy Woman at Swiss Clinic
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- The founder of Dignitas, the pro-euthanasia group that operates the Switzerland-based euthanasia clinic, has revealed plans to kill a health woman in an assisted suicide. backers of the practice claim they want suicides for terminally ill patients and the elderly, but they are pushing the envelope even further.

Montana Governor Signs Fake Human Cloning Ban Allowing Cloning for Research
Helena, MT (LifeNews.com) -- When is a ban on human cloning not really a ban on human cloning? When the bill only bans one of the two types of human cloning that scientists could undertake and allows the other version to legally flourish unchecked by the state legislature or government.

First-Ever Procedure Uses Patient's Own Adult Stem Cells to Treat Stroke Effects
Houston, TX (LifeNews.com) -- In what is believed to be the nation's first such procedure, doctors in Texas were able to successfully use adult stem cells from a patient to treat the effects of his stroke. Physicians from Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston were involved in the process.

Schindler Family Attends Mass for Terri Schiavo Hosted by Ave Maria University
St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- The Schindler family attended a special Mass on Tuesday, which marked the fourth anniversary of the painful starvation and dehydration euthanasia death of Terri Schiavo. Ave Maria University, a Florida-based Catholic college, hosted the mass, which saw the entire Schindler family attend.

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