British Scientists Plan to Create Human-Rabbit Hybrids in Grisly Research
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- British scientists are planning to create human embryos by fusing human cells with animal eggs in a controversial research that they hope will be able to find cures and treatments for debilitating diseases. Three teams of scientists have submitted research proposal to the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, which regulates bioethics research in England. They want to create embryos that are 99.9% human and .1 percent rabbit or cow. The scientists would remove the nuclei from animal eggs and replace them with human cells -- giving them complete human genes but also some from the animal. Stephen Minger at King's College, London, and Ian Wilmut, the Edinburgh University scientist whose team created Dolly the Sheep are seeking to make the embryos, which would all be destroyed for research. If the British licenses are granted, the unborn children will grow until they are 14 days old at which point they will be destroyed for their embryonic stem cells for research.

Christian Doctors Group Worries Support for Assisted Suicide Will Grow
Chicago, IL (LifeNews.com) -- A representative of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, a leading pro-life group for Christian doctors and dentists, says he's worried that support for assisted suicide will grow in the U.S. in the next few years. Dr. David Fisher, a Chicago doctor who specializes in geriatrics, told Agape Press that rising health care costs are changing people's attitudes about euthanasia and assisted suicide. "Dying patients or patients who are very sick and receiving costly treatments are likely to feel like they are a burden on their family," Fisher says, "and for that reason [they] may be persuaded to elect physician-assisted suicide if it were legal." He told AP that he worries euthanasia backers will push assisted suicide on patients, doctors and hospitals as a cheaper alternative to treatment or palliative care. "I think that's where Christian doctors can really step in and make an impact, because those really aren't the only two options," he added. "When someone is faced with the prospect of dying, we still can provide many, many services for that patient."

Abortion Advocates Keep Running Hotline Getting Women Abortion Funds
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The National Abortion Federation is a trade group for abortion businesses but it's more than a professional organization for companies that prey on women and their unborn children. NAF also runs a hotline to make sure women have the hundreds of dollars they need to pay for abortions. Laura, the case manager at the hotline, and her staff talk to about 100 callers per day. Most are looking for abortion facilities in their area. But a sizable minority seek the hotline's assistance in raising money from the various nonprofit abortion funds around the country and from NAF's own small discretionary fund. because there isn't enough money to go around, the hotline counselors spend considerable time helping women raise the funds for the abortion. The help may come in the form of encouraging friends to give money to pay for the abortion or finding things to take to a local pawn shop. Crisis pregnancy centers maintain their own local hotlines and Care Net and Heartbeat International operate Optionline, an 800 number (1-800-395-HELP) and a web site that directs women and teenagers to local pregnancy centers.

Missouri Firefighters Back State Human Cloning, Embryonic Stem Cell Prop
Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) -- Fighting fires and political debates over promoting human cloning and embryonic stem cell research normally don't have anything to do with each other. However, the International Association of Fire Fighters, Missouri Locals 42 and 3808 has endorsed a statewide proposition to promote the two practices and is urging its membership to back it. The two units support Amendment 2, which will appear on the November ballot. Louie Wright, president of IAFF Missouri Local 42, said his group is supporting the initiative because he claims it will eventually lead to help for burn victims. "We strongly urge Missourians to vote yes on Amendment 2 because we believe stem cell research could provide new treatments for severe burns and injuries that affect thousands of citizens and firefighters." However, embryonic stem cell research and human cloning are nowhere close to helping patients and have had numerous problems with research on animals. Only adult stem cells, which have produced dozens of treatments for various conditions, are helping people.

Idaho Abortion Advocates Seek to Derail Parental Consent Law
Boise, ID (LifeNews.com) -- The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood Federation of America argued in court last week to try to derail Idaho's third attempt at approving a parental consent law. Rebecca Poedy, President of Planned Parenthood of Idaho, claimed, “If we really cared about protecting teens we wouldn't put up roadblocks [to abortion]." The law in question would prevent teens under 18 from having an abortion unless they receive the written consent of a parent or a court waiver of that requirement. The measure is slightly modified from two earlier versions already struck down by the courts. Argument in the case was heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In July 2005, a lower court struck the law claiming it could "cause the mature minor to forego the emergency procedure even if it threatened her life.”