Publisher

Abortion Norway – Doctor fired for refusing to administer abortifacients UK – Are abortions for cleft palate rising? Poland – New Law Proposed to Ban All Abortions Alternative Medicine Australia – How Chinese medicine kills cancer cells Euthanasia Netherlands – The Dutch do it better IVF& Surrogacy Norway – What’s in the IVF Petri dish? Medical Ethics UK – Doctors worried about shift to online self-diagnosis USA – Debate over chimera embryos intensifies USA – Has Obamacare created a “transgender mandate”? Pedophilia Australia – Government seized 18 shipments of child sex dolls since 2013 Pornography Russia – Government bans online porn, and says “meet people in real life”

India – New weapon to tackle the spread of internet child pornography

Same SexAttraction

USA – Study: Sexual orientation is a biologically fixed property

Australia – Child Starts Sex Change before Kindergarten

USA – The Syndemic of AIDS among homosexual Men SexualExploitation South Africa – Government launches action plan on Human Trafficking USA – Asian nations step up human trafficking fight UK – Careers officers should suggest prostitution as a line of work Substance Abuse USA – Police change approach to opioid addicts USA – Cannabis Industry Expected to Be Worth $50 Billion by 2026 Japan – Gaining scientific proof of adverse effects of cannabis Canada – Government approves prescription heroin

Abortion

Norway – Doctor fired for refusing to administer abortifacients

Katarzyna Jachimowicz, a Polish family physician working in Norway, became the first medical professional in the country fired because she exercised her conscience rights. Dr. Jachimowicz refused to surrender to government officials wanting her to abandon her sanctity of life standards. Instead, she is fighting for freedom and tolerance for family doctors. From the beginning, her objections were not only clear to her employer but also accepted. “Life begins at conception and I did not want to take part in destroying it,” she explained. In 2014, the legal situation worsened, with the nearly complete elimination of the conscience clause for family doctors.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/in-norway-polish-doctor-fights-for-conscience-rights-after-losing-job

UK – Are abortions for cleft palate rising?

Abortions for cleft palate, an easily-fixed facial deformity, have been rising in the United Kingdom according to latest official figures. In 2015, 11 were carried out compared to 4 in 2012. Campaigners point the finger at new pre-natal tests which allow doctors to inform pregnant women of the defect. MP Fiona Bruce, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, said: “It is deeply disturbing if these figures reflect a worrying trend in society to disproportionately value the physically perfect and beautiful.” Reverend Joanna Jepson, who was born with a jaw deformity, said: “That this kind of discrimination is on the rise shows just how far we are from being the humane and tolerant society we claim to be.”

http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/are-abortions-for-cleft-palate-rising-in-the-uk/11994#sthash.Hxiy0pVE.dpuf

Poland – New Law Proposes Banning All Abortions

A new citizen-led bill which has wide support from the public and several leading government officials would prohibit all abortions except when the mother’s life is in jeopardy. The bill would criminalize abortion for causing the “death of a conceived child.” Doctors who do abortions and women who have them could face jail time of up to five years. A pro-abortion campaign called “Save Women” collected about 215,000 signatures for an opposing citizen-led bill that would legalize abortion on demand up until 12 weeks of pregnancy. In contrast, the pro-life bill has about 450,000 signatures.

http://www.lifenews.com/2016/09/19/poland-proposes-new-law-banning-all-abortions-and-protecting-unborn-children/

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Alternative Medicine

Australia – How Chinese medicine kills cancer cells

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have shown in one of the first studies the molecular mode of action of a complex mixture of plant-based compounds, in this case extracts from the roots of two medicinal herbs, Kushen and Baituling. Professor David Adelson, Director of the Zhendong Australia said “We showed that the patterns of gene expression triggered by Compound Kushen Injection (CKI) affect the same pathways as western chemotherapy, but by acting on different genes in the same pathways, these genes regulate the cell cycle of division and death, and it seems that CKI alters the way the cell cycle is regulated to push cancer cells down the cell death pathway, therefore killing the cells.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160908084319.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}3A+sciencedaily{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}2Fhealth_medicine{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}2Falternative_medicine+{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}28Alternative+Medicine+News+–+ScienceDaily{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}29

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Euthanasia

Netherlands – The Dutch do it better

Hot upon the heels of the news that the first reported case of euthanasia for a 17 year old took place recently in Belgium, comes the news from Holland that a “centre for euthanasia in children” is expected to open in that country within 12 months. Dutch Health Minister, Edith Schippers earmarked 400,000 Euros in May this year for a study on the matter. What is it they say about an inquiry? Never start one unless you know the answer beforehand?

http://www.mercatornet.com/careful/view/the-dutch-do-it-better/18698

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IVF&Surrogacy

Norway – What’s in the IVF Petri dish?

With as many as one in 25 children being born through IVF in some countries, you would think that doctors understand the health risks perfectly. Not so. A clutch of papers in the leading journal Human Reproduction points out that the Petri dishes in which IVF embryos spend the first days of their lives are filled with mysterious fluids made up of unknown ingredients. And the composition of these laboratory cultures affects the birth weight of the resulting babies and possibly their long-term health.

http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/whats-in-the-ivf-petri-dish/11983#sthash.Ey6PCUAR.dpuf

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Medical Ethics

UK – Doctors worried about shift to online self-diagnosis

British company ADA Digital Health Ltd has released a sophisticated self-diagnosis app, while tech giant Google unveiled it’s new “symptom checker” search device. And on Wednesday UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced that the NHS plans to introduce a new smart-phone diagnosis service. But some doctors are concerned about the new developments, and have warned about the danger of misdiagnosis and “cybercondria”. Maureen Baker, Chair of the UK’s Royal College of General Practitioners, said “…asking patients to use an online tool when they are ill in lieu of describing their symptoms to someone over the phone who is trained to ask the right questions, should be approached with extreme caution.” Psychologist Mary Aiken said ” The question is: Can Dr. Google abide by one of the main tenets of the Hippocratic Oath “First, do no harm.”

http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/doctors-worried-about-shift-to-online-self-diagnosis/11991

USA – Debate over chimera embryos intensifies

As the National Institutes of Health considers abandoning its ban on funding chimera experiments it will replace it with an “internal steering committee” to make funding decisions. Case Western Reserve University bioethicist Insoo Hyun argued that “Given the noble aims of this research, it is puzzling to some why the NIH is so nervous about providing federal funds to researchers with a track record of success in this area. But the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called for the proposal to be set aside “The NIH proposal… [permits] the destruction of human embryos; it contemplates producing entities with partly or wholly human brains; and it allows for producing living entities who have human gametes.”

http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/debate-over-chimera-embryos-intensifies/11993

USA – Has Obamacare created a “transgender mandate”?

Obamacare has been challenged on ethical grounds for allegedly forcing doctors to perform gender transition procedures on children. Last year the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) interpreted the word “sex” in Obamacare to include gender identity. Now, say the plaintiffs in a case known as Franciscan Alliance, Inc., v. Burwell, doctors will be compelled to perform transgender surgeries on children and adults, even if doing so conflicts with a professional judgment that the procedure would be harmful or not in the patient’s best interests. The plaintiffs in Franciscan Alliance, Inc., v. Burwell are Franciscan Alliance, a religious hospital network, and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, joined by the states of Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/has-obamacare-created-a-transgender-mandate/11996

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Pedophilia

Australia – Government seized 18 shipments of child sex dolls since 2013

The possession of the lifelike dolls is banned in the country but their Japanese designer, Shin Takagi claims he is an “artist” helping to prevent paedophiles from offending. He set up his company to help him fight his own sexual urges and channel his desires away from children. But experts have disputed whether dolls act as a deterrent and some warned that the dolls normalise the act. A petition was signed by over 60,000 people calling on the regional government to ban their sale. “The Border Force works closely with Australian Federal and state police agencies to target and seize the dolls at the border, and prosecute those that seek or possess them.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/man-who-makes-child-sex-dolls-for-paedophiles-claims-he-is-an-artist-a7192061.html

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Pornography

Russia – Government bans online porn

Russia has banned two of the world’s largest pornographic websites. Pornhub and YouPorn are two of the 11 sites which were officially banned after a decision was taken last year by authorities that such sites violate child protection laws. Such bans of websites are relatively commonplace in Russia, with Roskomnadzor (media regulator) operating a blacklist containing thousands of sites. PornHub meanwhile took to Twitter itself to request an “unban” of its services in exchange for granting Roskomnadzor a free premium account.

http://www.thejournal.ie/russia-pornography-ban-2980852-Sep2016/

India – New weapon to tackle the spread of internet child pornography

Collaboration between a child protection initiative by the Mumbai-based NGO Prerana and the UK’s Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is designed to enable citizens to report any sexually explicit images of children online. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 94 instances of child pornography were reported in 2015. The NGO’s “hotline” form is offered in Hindi and English and can be filled in anonymously online. When a website is reported for hosting child pornography, it is assessed by a team of experts from the IWF in the UK. This team will then work to take down the content and prevent any current or future copies of the images or video from being uploaded elsewhere.

http://qz.com/785909/india-is-taking-on-child-pornography-with-an-online-hotline/

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Same Sex Attraction

USA – Study: Sexual orientation is a biologically fixed property

A study by Dr. Lawrence S. Mayer, biostatistician and epidemiologist, and Dr. Paul R. McHugh, distinguished service professor of Psychiatry at John Hopkins University summarized 200 case studies integrating biological, psychological, and social data’ showing that sexual orientation is a biologically fixed property of human beings. The study shows further evidence that while “biological factors such as genes and hormones are associated with sexual behaviours and attractions, there are no compelling causal biological explanations for human sexual orientation. There is no neurobiological basis for gender identification that transgresses from biological sex. Only 0.6 percent adults identify as a gender not corresponding to their biological sex.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/large-peer-study-debunks-lgbt-creed-with-scientific-facts

Australia – Child Starts Sex Change before Kindergarten

A 4-year-old child has begun the process of having a sex change even though the child hasn’t yet started kindergarten. The New South Wales Department of Education has revealed that the child is the youngest person in the country to be in the process of transitioning genders for eventual gender reassignment using funds from the department’s Safe School program. NSW deputy secretary of school operations Gregory Prior said that there are “a number of students who are going through gender transition in our schools. The education department did not disclose any personal details about the 4-year-old’s case. The gender transition is hoped to be complete by 2017 http://www.christianpost.com/news/4-year-old-child-starts-sex-change-transition-before-kindergarten-in-australia-169164/

USA – The Syndemic of AIDS among homosexual Men

The Centres for Disease Control estimated that 36,138 men were newly infected with HIV. Of these, 30,635 (83{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}) were homosexual men or men who had sex with men (MSM). While new infections in other categories have been declining, MSM has been increasing. Co-occurring epidemics among MSM included: higher rates of psychoactive party drugs, sexual compulsivity and sexual addiction. The research on AIDS among MSM found: the connection among these epidemic health problems and HIV/AIDS is far more complex than a 1-to-1 relationship; the additive interplay of these health problems magnifies the vulnerability of a population to serious health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, psychological disorders, depression, suicidal ideation, STDs and substance abuse.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hivsurveillance-report-us.pdf.

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Sexual Exploitation

South Africa – Government launches action plan on Human Trafficking

The National Plan of Action on Human Trafficking (NAPLAC) fights the crime following cases where Zimbabwean women were trafficked to Kuwait. Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said the NAPLAC would run until 2018. ”The plan is anchored on four pillars – prosecution, prevention, protection and partnership. It is expected that the information on human trafficking will get to grassroots levels, protecting all our citizens, especially women and children, even in the remotest parts of our country.” Minister Mumbengegwi urged diplomats to be associated with the action plan.

http://www.herald.co.zw/latest-gvt-launches-action-plan-on-human-trafficking/

USA – Asian nations step up human trafficking fight

The U.S. and several Asian countries are boosting their efforts to fight human trafficking and the exploitation of immigrants and refugees. President Obama and leaders of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have signed a new declaration to combat modern-day human slavery throughout the region. The program would reduce human trafficking practices in the global food supply chain, and support improved research and data collection to target international criminals engaged in human trafficking. It builds upon ongoing U.S. efforts in East Asia and China to protect vulnerable migrants at risk of human trafficking, including training initiatives for government officials to identify and assist these migrants.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/u.s.-asian-nations-step-up-human-trafficking-fight/article/2601258?custom_click=rss

UK – Careers officers should suggest prostitution as a line of work

School careers officers should suggest prostitution as a potential line of work. Dennis Parsons, the chairman of Cheltenham Liberal Democrats, floated the idea at a special session on sex work. The Lib Dem said careers officers are not allowed to suggest prostitution, but added: “Why shouldn’t they?” Lib Dem leader Tim Farron distanced himself from the remarks, but insisted he would not “slap down” the councilor for making them because people needed to be allowed to say “shocking things”. “Drawing the equivalence between sex work and accountancy is not one that I share.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/careers-officers-could-suggest-prostitution-8858826

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Substance Abuse

USA – Police change approach to opioid addicts

In the wake of their opiate crisis Massachusetts police in Gloucester have made revolutionary changes in the way they handle drug users. The chief promised critical actions: Any addict who walks into the police station with the remainder of their drug equipment or drugs and asks for help will not be charged. Instead they will go through the system toward detox and recovery. Five weeks later, the chief reported 10 addicts in and 10 placed on the way to recovery with no judgment, as well as 20 parents’, countless siblings, friends, and loved ones’ lives changed. This is only the beginning, one life at a time.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-08-31/how-police-in-massachusetts-can-arrest-the-drug-epidemic

USA – Cannabis Industry Expected to Be Worth $50 Billion by 2026

Legalizing recreational use in California, where the drug is already medically permitted, is on the ballot in November, and approval of that measure alone would triple the size of the nation’s current $6 billion legal industry, according to a report from 10 Cowen & Co. In all, voters in nine states will vote on marijuana related initiatives this November; five to legalize the drug for all adults and four to allow for medical use.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-12/cannabis-industry-to-expand-to-50-billion-by-2026-analysts-say

Japan – Gaining scientific proof of adverse effects of cannabis

Researchers have clarified important mechanisms involved in the formation of neural circuits in the brain. This group also discovered that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive substance also found in cannabis, causes disruption of neural circuits within the cortex. Research was done at Osaka University and published in the Journal of Neuroscience. The findings provide scientific evidence for the adverse effects of cannabis consumption on brain development and therefore may help to decrease abuse of marijuana

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160912111913.htm

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/36/26/7039

Canada – Government approves prescription heroin

Canadian doctors dealing with patients who have proved unable to stop taking heroin can now go ahead and prescribe them heroin. Justin Trudeau’s government has reinstated a policy that allows doctors to prescribe diacetylmorphine, pharmaceutical-grade heroin, to severely addicted patients if other methods of treatment fail. Giving addicts heroin clearly doesn’t cure their habits, experts say, but it prevents many overdose deaths and reduces both health care costs and crime.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/09/16/canada-approves-prescription-heroin.html?intcmp=hpffo&intcmp=obnetwork

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Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of Doctors for Life International

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Abortion USA – Abortions Drop to Record Low in North Dakota UK – Marie Stopes suspends abortions in UK after safety inspections USA – Abortions Drop 37{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} in Memphis USA – Is Zika the cause of Microcephaly? Alternative Medicine USA – DEA will ban chemicals contained in Kratom Euthanasia Belgium – Gold medalist paralympian from Belgium seeks euthanasia USA – California grants assisted suicide to disabled, but not to prisoners Australia – New euthanasia lobby group launched in Australia Belgium – Euthanasia tourism on the rise in Belgium IVF& Surrogacy India – Government to ban all commercial surrogacy Medical Ethics USA – Have embryonic stem cells hit the wall? USA – More people donating their bodies to science USA – Legal heads-up on decapitation Switzerland – Bioethicists challenge right to conscientious objection Pedophilia Gambia/Tanzania – Governments ban child marriage Australia – Travel by Australian paedophiles must be blocked Sweden – Could this injection cure Paedophilia? Pornography Australia – Many high school girls victims of online ‘pornography ring’ UK – Pornography ‘desensitising young people’ USA – Ex-Playmate Pamela Anderson: ‘Porn Is for Losers’ Canada – Get religious to stay away from pornography Same SexAttraction Colombia – Thousands march in protest of homosexual school programs SexualExploitation South Africa –  A haven of sex slavery and child trafficking USA – Massachusetts Senate toughens anti human trafficking laws Substance Abuse USA – Legalized pot makes lower class poorer and less responsible South Africa – Dagga Activists Case Postponed USA – Increase in Number of Adults using Marijuana USA – Five States Will Vote on Marijuana Legalization in November

Abortion

USA – Abortions Drop to Record Low in North Dakota North Dakota, like so many other states across the country who are seeing historic low abortion totals, have passed several pieces of pro-life legislation in recent years. The Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo performed 1,166 abortions last year, down from 1,264 in 2014, according to the state Department of Health.  Bishop John Thomas Fulda of Fargo said the downward trend is a testament to the hard and often difficult work of pregnancy centers, adoption agencies and maternity homes. http://www.lifenews.com/2016/08/12/abortions-drop-to-record-low-in-north-dakota-at-almost-100-babies-saved-from-abortion/ UK – Marie Stopes suspends abortions in UK after safety inspections Marie Stopes International has suspended its surgical abortion operations across the United Kingdom after surprise inspections by government Care Quality Commission (CQC) officials found women could be at risk. It was unclear if staff had the competence or training to administer sedation and anesthesia. There were also “immediate concerns about issues of consent’. NHS England referred the 250 women scheduled for abortions at MSI to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), one of the country’s largest private abortion providers, and NHS hospitals. But the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has “condemned” the CQC’s “reaction to the dangerous and illegal abortion practices in private abortion clinics,” excoriating its position as “inadequate, immoral and unlawful collusion in criminal activity. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/marie-stopes-suspends-abortions-in-uk-after-gvmt-safety-inspection USA – Abortions Drop 37{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} in Memphis Abortions dropped sharply by 36.6 percent from 2011 to 2014 in Shelby County.  In 2011, there were 4,595 abortions in the county, but by 2014, the numbers dropped to 2,914, according to a report from the Tennessee Department of Health. The ratio of abortions to live births also fell dramatically, from 326.4 per 1,000 in 2011 to 208.3 per 1,000 in 2014. The reasons for the decline are increased use of so-called long-acting reversible contraceptives, like implants and intrauterine devices as well as laws restricting abortion. Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, said campaigns like the one that brings mobile ultrasounds to pregnant women so they can “see the humanity of their unborn child” have averted many abortions. http://www.lifenews.com/2016/08/29/abortions-drop-37-in-memphis-tennessee-as-more-babies-saved-from-abortion/ USA – Is Zika the cause of Microcephaly? It is suspected that the Zika virus is linked to microcephaly. The US Centers for Disease Control and the New England Journal of Medicine both concluded the link is there. But a recent, expansive study has cast legitimate doubt on the Zika/microcephaly connection. The study looked at nearly 12,000 pregnant Colombian women infected with Zika. None had babies with microcephaly. So what is the culprit? Some scientists believe pesticides may be the source. Pyriproxyfen may also have a detrimental effect on developing unborn babies. These early findings aren’t conclusive, but they do open the distinct possibility that Zika may not be the only cause of the increase in microcephaly cases. Pro-abortion activists are not happy about this. http://www.lifenews.com/2016/09/02/of-12000-women-infected-with-zika-all-gave-birth-to-healthy-baby-women-dont-need-abortion/ <Back to Top>

Alternative Medicine

USA – Government to ban chemicals contained in Kratom The Drug Enforcement Administration has announced its intention to temporarily ban the chemicals contained in Kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia that activates some of the same receptors as opioids.  The DEA has announced plans to temporarily classify two of Kratom’s psychoactive chemicals as Schedule 1 — the same category in which heroin, LSD, marijuana, and ecstasy are listed. The Food and Drug Administration has been trying to crack down on the substance, banning its import and ordering seizures of illegally packaged Kratom product. Barbara Carreno DEA spokeswoman said that the Department of Health and Human Services needs to study the substance in question. A handful of states have banned it as well. https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/30/kratom-ban-dea-schedule-1/ <Back to Top>

Euthanasia

Belgium – Gold medalist paralympian from Belgium seeks euthanasia The end-of-life wishes of a gold medalist at the Paralympics have again raised the question of what makes a Belgian eligible for euthanasia, Marieke Vervoort won silver in the 200 meters wheelchair sprint and gold in the 100 meter event. But she has told the media that she may request euthanasia after competing at Rio. Ms Vervoort has a degenerative disease which causes her great pain, but she can still compete at a high level in a range of sports, including basketball, swimming and triathlons’. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/gold-medallist-paralympian-from-belgian-seeks-euthanasia/11956 USA – California grants assisted suicide to disabled, but not to prisoners Following the legalization of assisted suicide in California, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has proposed regulations that will prohibit prisoners from receiving “aid in dying”. Prisoners are to be provided with “healthcare appropriate and necessary to their situation”, and the regulations are said to “ensure the health, safety and security of inmates”. The End of Life Option Act states that Californian residents with a terminal illness and less than six months to live are eligible to receive assistance in dying. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/california-grants-assisted-suicide-to-disabled-but-not-to-prisoners/11958 Australia – New euthanasia lobby group launched in Australia Influential Australian journalist Andrew Denton has launched a new campaign for assisted dying in Australia, and called on the Catholic Church to “stay out” of the euthanasia debate. Denton claimed that the failure to legalise euthanasia in the country was the result of a “subterranean” network of religious politicians and businessmen. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/new-euthanasia-lobby-group-launched-in-australia/11960 Belgium – Euthanasia tourism on the rise in Belgium A rising number of “euthanasia tourists” are flocking to Belgium to end their lives, according to doctors in the country. Last year 2023 people were medically killed in Belgium, more than double the figure of five years earlier. Of these, many appear to be foreign nationals seeking assisted dying. “It’s a phenomenon that did not exist five or six years ago,” At the Brugmann University hospital, where Dr Vermylen works, 7 of 15 euthanasia cases last year involved French people. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/euthanasia-tourism-on-the-rise-in-belgium/11985 <Back to Top>

IVF&Surrogacy

India – Government to ban all commercial surrogacy The Indian government plans to impose a complete ban on commercial surrogacy and to permit it only for legally married Indian couples. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 would ban unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners and homosexuals from engaging surrogate mothers. Nothing but altruistic surrogacy would be permitted. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/india-may-ban-all-commercial-surrogacy/11975#sthash.ThnXkdqq.dpuf <Back to Top>

Medical Ethics

USA – Have embryonic stem cells hit the wall? “Will Embryonic Stem Cells Ever Cure Anything?” is a skeptical headline you might read in a conservative journal like the National Review or the Weekly Standard. However, it is bit surprising to find it in the MIT Technology Review, in a profile of Douglas Melton, a Harvard stem cell scientist. … ‘No field of biotechnology has promised more and delivered less in the way of treatments than embryonic stem cells. Only a handful of human studies have ever been carried out, without significant results. The cells, culled from IVF embryos, are capable of developing into any other tissue type in the body, and therefore promise an unlimited supply of replacement tissue. Sounds simple, but it hasn’t been.’ http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/have-embryonic-stem-cells-hit-the-wall/11954 USA – More people donating their bodies to science The surge in bodies being donated for dissection has been a bonanza for medical schools anatomy and surgery classes. “Not long ago, it was taboo. Now we have thousands of registered donors,” said Mark Zavoyna, manager of Georgetown University’s body donation program. ScienceCare, “the world’s largest accredited whole body donation program” appeals to generosity and altruism but there are other factors like the cost of cremation and funerals and weakening religious objections to dissection and cremation. Bodies used by medical schools are cremated and returned to families, often at no expense. According to Time magazine, for the first time in the US, more people were cremated than buried in 2015. In 1980, fewer than 10{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of people chose cremation. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/more-donating-their-bodies-to-science/11966 USA – Legal heads-up on decapitation As a Chinese doctor plans the world’s first head transplant, renowned medical law expert professor Nita Farahany at Duke University said the operation – which the international medical community agrees has virtually no chance of success – would likely not even satisfy the legal criteria for consent if it were performed in the US. As Farahany observes, “a patient cannot consent to intentional or reckless homicide”. Alternately, is the right way to analyze a proposed head transplant as an assumable risk in surgery? We permit surgeons to operate on patients every day, even though they may die, and many do. Is this head transplant surgery just a very risky surgery to which a patient can, or should be able, to legally consent? http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/legal-heads-up-on-decapitation/11979 Switzerland – Bioethicists challenge right to conscientious objection Over a dozen bioethicists at the Brocher Foundation signed a “Consensus Statement on Conscientious Objection in Healthcare” and said “healthcare practitioners’ primary obligations are towards their patients, not towards their own personal conscience”. Practitioners exempted from performing procedures on conscientious grounds should compensate society and the health system by providing public-benefitting services. Medical students should also not be exempted from learning how to perform basic medical procedures they consider to be morally wrong.” American bioethicist Wesley Smith was indignant. Writing in the National Review, Smith said: “Medical professionals are being pushed toward what I call ‘medical martyrdom;’ either be complicit in killing, commit what the professional considers a grievous sin, or suffer professional discipline, perhaps even loss of license.” http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/bioethicists-challenge-right-to-conscientious-objection/11988 <Back to Top>

Pedophilia

Gambia/Tanzania – Governments ban child marriage Gambian President Yayha Jammeh announced that anyone marrying a girl under 18 would be jailed for up to 20 years. And in Tanzania, the high court imposed a landmark ruling outlawing marriage under the age of 18 for boys and girls. 30{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of underage girls are married in Gambia, while in Tanzania the rate is 37{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}, Before the Tanzania ruling, girls as young as 14 could marry with parental consent, while it was 18 for boys. Gambia’s President speaking at the end of Ramadan, said parents and imams who perform the ceremonies would also face prison. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36746174 Australia – Travel by Australian paedophiles must be blocked A number of men convicted of sex crimes in Australia are largely free to pursue their vile crimes overseas. Data obtained by Fairfax Media reveals 753 Victorian registered sex offenders have tried to travel overseas or succeeded in doing so since 2011. Previous data indicate child-sex tourism hotspots in south-east Asia are popular destinations. In 2014, 250 Australian child-sex offenders went to the Philippines alone. Registered child-sex offenders in Australia must inform police of their travel plans so that the destination country is informed and local authorities can decide to allow, monitor, or resist their travel request. Senator Derryn Hinch used his address to the Melbourne Press Club last week to cancel passports of convicted paedophiles. http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/travel-by-australian-paedophiles-must-be-blocked-20160816-gqtukl.html Sweden – Could this injection cure Paedophilia? Dr Christoffer Rahm from the Karolinska Institute is investigating the cancer drug Degarelix to reduce sexual urges in potential abusers. Just one injection of the substance can reduce testosterone to undetectable levels within three days. Scientists want to see if the drug can help volunteers keep their sexual urges in check without causing unacceptable side effects. Unlike some other hormone treatments, the drug does not cause an initial “flare” that actually boosts levels of testosterone. The institute has launched a crowd-funding project to raise £38,000 for carry out further research into Degarelix. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/658875/Christoffer-Rahm-Karolinska-Institute-Sweden-Stockholm-paedophile <Back to Top>

Pornography

Australia – Many high school girls victims of online ‘pornography ring’ More than 2,000 graphic images of female students from over 70 schools have been shared by teen boys on a website. Young men use the group to nominate a high school or area they’re looking for nudes from, or full names of girls they are “hunting,” according to the Australian news organisation. The site also features “wanted” lists with members able to “contribute” by posting personal information about the young women including physical features, friendship circles, phone numbers and addresses. The Australian Federal Police are aware of the existence of a website which encourages users to upload images of a sexual nature and that they are working with taskforces in other states to determine an appropriate cause of action. http://mashable.com/2016/08/16/australian-students-victims-pornography-ring/#Rcu9ZytMXEq1 UK – Pornography ‘desensitising young people’ About 53{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of 11- to 16-year-olds have seen explicit material online and (94{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}) had seen it by 14, a Middlesex University study found. The researchers questioned 1,001 children aged 11 to 16 and found 65{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of 15- to 16-year-olds reported seeing pornography, as did 28{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of 11- to 12-year-olds. Most of the boys saw it as a realistic depiction of sex. More than a third (39{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}) of the 13- to 14-year-olds and a fifth of the 11- to 12-year-olds boys saying they wanted to copy the behaviour they had seen. A 13-year-old boy related that one of his friends has started treating women like he sees on the videos. USA – Ex-Playmate Pamela Anderson: ‘Porn Is for Losers’ Former Playboy model Pamela Anderson has teamed up with a rabbi to speak out against pornography. An opinion piece by Anderson and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach published by the Wall Street Journal cites the latest sexting scandal involving former Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner in calling for “an honest dialogue” about the dangers of pornography and “an honour code to tamp it down.” The essay calls pornography “a public hazard of unprecedented seriousness.” It closes by saying “porn is for losers” and calls it “a boring wasteful and dead-end outlet for people too lazy to reap the ample rewards of healthy sexuality.” http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/09/02/us/ap-us-pamela-anderson-anti-porn-pledge.html Canada – Get religious to stay away from pornography Researchers have found that attending religious services can keep the youth away from the adult sites. According to Kyler Rasmussen, lead author of the study and a PhD student at University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada it was found that there is a barrier effect at play where religious social control encourages adolescents to view less pornography over time. This increase in pornography consumption as adolescents get older isn’t as drastic among those who attend religious services. We can see that religious attendance is a factor in shaping the habit of pornography viewing in adolescents, Rasmussen noted. The findings are based on a telephone survey of 3,290 teenagers and their parents. The study was published in the Journal of Adolescence. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/get-religious-to-stay-away-from-pornography/articleshow/53079877.cms <Back to Top>

Same Sex Attraction

Colombia – Thousands march in protest of homosexual school programs Colombians joined in protest against a new initiative of the country’s homosexual Minister of Education, Gina Parody, on implementing homosexual and transsexual gender ideology programs in Colombian schools. In the past two weeks, the Constitutional Court has ruled twice that “transgender” students in two different schools must be allowed to wear clothing appropriate to the opposite sex. Parody’s plan for revising the student handbooks includes a pamphlet she designed in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other UN agencies to instruct schools on how to induce students to “respect” and “value” transgenderism and homosexuality. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/thousands-of-colombians-join-nationwide-protest-of-gender-ideology-in-publi <Back to Top>

Sexual Exploitation

South Africa – A haven of sex slavery and child trafficking Statistics reveal SA could have as many as 100 000 young girls working in underground sex dens as sex slaves. Lorraine Botha MP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Community Development said in a Press release “I will submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Social Development in the Western Cape, Albert Fritz, to determine whether the Department has a programme which focuses on identifying and eradicating this practice and if there is any record of the number of sex slaves in the Western Cape. I will also ask whether the Department has a rehabilitation programme for the victims.’ http://www.health24.com/Sex/News/sa-a-haven-of-sex-slavery-and-child-trafficking-20160406 USA – Massachusetts Senate toughens anti human trafficking laws Sen. Mark Montigny sponsor’s a Bill that strengthens the state’s antihuman trafficking laws. He says the measure will close legal loopholes that allow individuals to practice so-called “bodywork therapy” without having to meet the licensing requirements needed for massage therapy. The bill would also extend from three years to 10 years the time that victims can file civil suits against their traffickers. It would help law enforcement improve their data collection to better track human trafficking crimes. The New Bedford Democrat says the loophole allows human traffickers to maintain the facade of a legitimate business while operating in local communities. The bill would now require licenses for bodywork practitioners. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/24/senate-oks-bill-to-toughen-state-anti-human-traffi/ <Back to Top>

Substance Abuse

USA – Legalized pot makes lower class poorer and less responsible A recent study by Steven Davenport of RAND and Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon notes that “despite the popular stereotype of marijuana users as well-off and well-educated; they lag behind national averages” on both income and schooling. People who have a household income of less than $20,000 a year comprise 19{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of the population but make up 28{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of marijuana users. Even though those who earn more than $75,000 make up 33{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of the population, 25{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of them are marijuana users. Having more education also seems to make it less likely that you are a user. College graduates make up 27{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of the population but only 19{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of marijuana user. http://nypost.com/2016/08/20/legalized-pot-is-making-americas-lower-class-poorer-and-less-responsible/ South Africa – Dagga Activists Case Postponed A full bench of the court postponed the case‚ brought by Gareth Prince‚ a Rastafarian‚ and Jeremy Acton‚ the leader of the Dagga Party of South Africa‚ until December 13. This is to allow government departments to respond to a criminologist’s report that was handed to court. http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2016/08/31/{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}E2{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}80{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}98The-people-of-SA-need-dagga{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}E2{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}80{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}9A{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}E2{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}80{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}99-say-activists-as-legalisation-case-postponed USA – Increase in Number of Adults using Marijuana An increasing number of US adults are using marijuana, as fewer people perceive the drug as harmful, according to a survey of over 500000 US adults conducted between 2002 and 2014 published in The Lancet Psychiatry. As marijuana has become increasingly potent over the past decade, the authors say that the findings suggest the need for improved education and prevention messages regarding the risks of marijuana. The number of adults who first used marijuana increased from 823000 in 2002 to 1.4 million in 2014 and that the overall number of marijuana users increased from 21.9 to 31.9 million. The number of daily or near daily users was 8.4 million 2014, an increase from 3.9 million in 2002. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)30208-5/abstract https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831223748.htm USA – Five States Will Vote on Marijuana Legalization in November Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada will all vote in November on the legalization of marijuana. Given all the information available, the best estimate is that California is most likely to grant legalization, followed by Maine and Nevada. Arizona has taken the toughest stance against legalization, followed by Massachusetts. http://www.alternet.org/drugs/its-official-these-5-states-vote-marijuana-legalization-november?akid=14535.8847.7QMUfO&rd=1&src=newsletter1061910&t=8   <Back to Top>  

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of Doctors for Life International

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Abortion

USA – Texas drops all charges against Center for Medical Progress

USA – Planned Parenthood Closing Six Clinics

Mexico – State Votes to Ban Abortions and “Protect Life from Conception”

Ireland – High Court Rules an Unborn Baby Has a Right to Life

Alternative Medicine

No news today

Euthanasia

USA – Doctors are healers, not killers

USA – Doctors Sue Vermont for Forcing Promoting Killing Their Patients

IVF& Surrogacy

USA – IVF doctors issue new ethical guidelines for errors

Medical Ethics

USA – Stem Cell Therapies Still Mostly Theory, Yet Clinics Are Flourishing

USA – Normalizing Gender Dysphoria is Dangerous and Unethical

USA – X-Men is fine in the movies but not in real life

Pedophilia

No news today

Pornography

USA – The anti-porn movement is growing

UK – One in six ‘revenge porn’ victims are children

India – Shops sell real life rape videos under the counter

USA – Teen live video stream sexual assault instead of helping

Same SexAttraction

Germany – High court rejects third gender category Australia – The first Australian national Trans mental health study Sweden – Study says high LGBT suicide rates not due to homophobia

SexualExploitation

Brazil – Nine year old girls selling their bodies

Ireland – Minister’s comments on prostitution receive mixed response

Substance Abuse

USA – Significant pain increases the risk of opioid addiction

USA – Edible Pot Sends Toddlers to Colorado ER’s

USA – Endless prescription: Suboxone, Subutex plaguing region

UK – Number of opiate-related deaths in UK rises to five-year peak

 

Abortion

USA – Texas drops all charges against Center for Medical Progress

Harris County District Attorney dropped felony charges against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, the Center for Medical Progress’ investigators who uncovered the abortion industry’s harvesting of aborted baby parts. “David Daleiden used standard undercover journalism techniques and followed all applicable laws in doing so,” Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society said. “This meritless and retaliatory prosecution should never have been brought.” Abortion advocates tried to use these charges to discredit the Center for Medical Progress, but the facts remain clear. Planned Parenthood has perpetuated abuse against women and children, which sparked congressional investigations and multiple state investigations. Their crimes have prompted numerous states to defund the abortion giant and trying to point the finger at Daleiden and Merritt failed.

http://liveactionnews.org/planned-parenthood-responds-to-decision-to-drop-all-charges-against-the-center-for-medical-progress/

USA – Planned Parenthood Closing Six Clinics

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky closed their Scott County location and their Vigo County location in Terre Haute due to profit. Undoubtedly, Planned Parenthood’s allies will try to claim the abortion giant’s closure is the fault of pro-life policymakers, as they have done with previous closures. Planned Parenthood’s clients are learning they are better off without the abortion giant. Indiana has 3,667 Federally Qualified Health Centre’s, Rural Health Clinics, Medicaid providers and Title V clinics, including 81 in Vigo County compared to only 23 Planned Parenthood facilities. Women get better preventative care and more comprehensive care at non-Planned Parenthood facilities.

http://www.lifenews.com/2016/07/20/planned-parenthood-abortion-business-closing-six-clinics-that-arent-getting-enough-business/

Mexico – State Votes to Ban Abortions and “Protect Life from Conception”

The Mexican state of Veracruz approved a constitutional amendment that effectively bans abortions by recognizing that unborn babies deserve protection. “I congratulate legislators of the Veracruz legislature for saying yes to life,” Javier Duarte outgoing Veracruz governer tweeted after the vote. The Mexico Supreme Court of Justice ruled three to one against a proposal to legalize abortion across the country. A woman procuring an abortion can face criminal charges in 18 of the 31 states. There is wide opposition to abortion in Mexico. Last year, more than 120,000 people signed a petition asking the nation’s Supreme Court to reaffirm that “abortion is not a right.”

http://www.lifenews.com/2016/07/29/mexican-state-votes-to-ban-abortions-and-protect-life-from-conception/

Ireland – High Court Rules an Unborn Baby Has a Right to Life

High Court judge, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, has ruled that the word ‘unborn’ in the Irish Constitution means an “unborn child” with rights beyond the right to life which “must be taken seriously” by the State. Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute said, “This is an important ruling which provides useful clarity at a time when the media and abortion campaigners are arguing that preborn children should be denied even the most fundamental right – the right to life,”. “Mr Justice Humphreys has ruled that preborn children not only have a right to life, but that the State is obliged to ensure that all the rights accruing to every child are upheld for children before birth.”

http://www.lifenews.com/2016/08/05/high-court-in-ireland-rules-an-unborn-baby-has-a-right-to-life/

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Alternative Medicine

No news today

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Euthanasia

USA – Doctors are healers, not killers

The American Medical Association (AMA) has reaffirmed its opposition to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia. According to the AMA’s Code of Ethics, allowing a doctor to engage in assisted suicide can do more harm than good. “You are violating the AMA Code of Ethics when you are in the business of prescribing a deadly drug to your patients. Physicians are healers, not killers,” said CMDA member Dr. Tom Eppes, chair of the Integrated Physician Practice Section of the AMA who was in attendance at the Code of Ethics Decision Reference Committee.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/doctors.are.healers.not.killers.u.s.medical.association.reaffirms.opposition.to.physician.assisted.suicide/91017.htm

USA – Doctors Sue Vermont for Forcing Them to Promote Killing Their Patients

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys filed suit in federal court against the Vermont Board of Medical Practice and the Office of Professional Regulation. “The government shouldn’t be telling health care professionals that they must violate their medical ethics in order to practice medicine,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden. “These doctors and other health care workers deeply believe that suffering patients need understanding and sound medical treatment, not encouragement to kill themselves. The state has no authority to order them to act contrary to that sincere and time-honored conviction.”

http://www.lifenews.com/2016/07/20/doctor-sue-vermont-for-forcing-them-to-promote-killing-their-patients-in-assisted-suicides/

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IVF&Surrogacy

USA – IVF doctors issue new ethical guidelines for errors Cases of mix-ups, losses and genetic defects have given IVF clinics and sperm banks a black eye in the past year in the United States. Now the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the peak IVF body in the US, has issued non-binding ethical guidelines for its members. It states that clinics are ethically obliged to inform people of mistakes “out of respect for patient autonomy and in fairness to patients”. Clinics should inform patients as soon as a mistake is discovered. And clinics should also foster “a culture of truth-telling”. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/ivf-doctors-issue-new-ethical-guidelines-for-errors/11944#sthash.J5udCqw8.dpuf

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Medical Ethics

USA – Stem Cell Therapies Still Mostly Theory, Yet Clinics Are Flourishing

US Health regulators are talked about as the best in the world, but a study on the spread of stem cell clinics by Paul Knoepfler of the Department of Cell biology and human Anatomy at the University of California shows what can happen when regulations fall behind. Over the past two to three years, 570 clinics have sprung up in the United States, offering untested stem cell treatments for just about every medical use imaginable. Outraged, Dr. Knoepfler has confronted some of the clinics. “I have spoken to the clinics and they say, ‘O.K., you have lectured me about F.D.A. regulations, but I have been doing this for years and never heard a peep from the F.D.A.’ They see it as a tacit green light,” Dr. Knoepfler said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/upshot/stem-cell-therapies-are-still-mostly-theory-yet-clinics-are-flourishing.html?_r=0

USA – Normalizing Gender Dysphoria is Dangerous and Unethical

The American College of Pediatricians’ has called for an end to the normalization of gender dysphoria (GD) in children. Mandates by public institutions to force GD as a normal variant of child development requiring toxic hormone therapy and surgical removal of healthy body parts are misguided and dangerous. A review of current medical literature finds this approach violates the principle of “First do no harm.” The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Christian Medical Association, and Catholic Medical Association representing over 20,000 health professionals share the College’s concern. President Dr. Michelle Cretella, “Young children are being permanently sterilized and surgically maimed under the guise of treating a condition that would otherwise resolve in over 80{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of them. This is criminal.”

https://www.acpeds.org/normalizing-gender-dysphoria-is-dangerous-and-unethical

USA – X-Men is fine in the movies but not in real life

Despite the popularity of superhumans in the X-Men series and a growing interest in transhumanism, the American public is wary of even mild forms of human enhancement. A Pew Research Center Survey asked about three scenarios: gene editing to protect babies from disease, chips in the brain to improve thinking ability and synthetic blood to increase speed, strength and endurance. Even though none are currently possible people were “cautious and often resistant”. 68{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} would be “very” or “somewhat” worried about gene editing, 69{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} about brain chips and (63{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}) about synthetic blood. 2 to 1 people would not want to be enhanced themselves and only half would want it for their children.

http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/x-men-fine-in-the-movies-but-not-in-real-life/11943

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Pedophilia

No news today

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Pornography

USA – The anti-porn movement is growing

Utah has passed a resolution declaring pornography a “public health crisis,” a step that shocked the public conscience. However, the movement to address the harms of pornography has been steadily growing and gaining momentum for years. Since 2011, there have been at least 24 studies that have revealed porn negatively impacts the brain. As people become aware of the harms to public health and to society, pornography is poised to follow the trend of tobacco in public consciousness. While public opinion about pornography is currently in flux, the volume of research and personal testimonies about its destructive forces continues to grow, and the movement to address the public health crisis of pornography has only just begun.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/05/27/the-anti-porn-movement-is-growing-the-public-is-just-catching-up/

UK – One in six ‘revenge porn’ victims are children

One in six ‘revenge porn’ victims are children with the youngest aged just eight years old. An eight-year-old child has become the youngest victim of revenge porn. An investigation by Good Morning Britain also found that one in six victims of revenge porn are children. MP Maria Miller stated that the damage that it is doing to young people is difficult to comprehend. Also no action is being taken by these organisations such Instagram who are hosting these images.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/one-six-revenge-porn-victims-8346359

India – Shops sell real life rape videos under the counter

The Times of India reports that shops are selling thousands of real life rape videos every day right under the noses of the police. Dealers will download videos directly into your smart phone. A senior policeman told The Times that rapists almost always record the crime on their phones, which they then use as a blackmailing tool to either bully the victims, which stops them from going to the police, or to further pressure them into sexual submission. While it’s impossible to say exactly why these things are happening, it could be that the rising popularity of hardcore porn is skewing people’s perception of what’s acceptable. The popularity of internet porn has created a massive porn culture in society.

http://fightthenewdrug.org/these-shops-in-india-sell-real-life-rape-videos-under-the-counter/

USA – Teen live video stream sexual assault instead of helping

This is a testimony of a girl named Emma who, when she was younger and was sexually assaulted, the sexual assault was recorded, and that video, sadly, may still be out there. When an Ohio teenager witnessed her 17-year-old friend being raped, she not only neglected to help the victim, she pointed her phone at the assault and streamed a live video of it. And in London, a group rape was live-streamed in late March while thousands watched. This is all very disturbing. Studies show that the more someone watches porn, over time and frequent use, the more they’re likely to gravitate towards hard-core genres to achieve the same levels of chemical rush of excitement.

http://fightthenewdrug.org/teens-live-video-stream-rapesexual-assault-instead-of-helping/

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Same Sex Attraction

Germany – High court rejects third gender category Germany’s High court said it rejected the creation of a third gender category of “inter” to describe people born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit the typical definitions of female or male. A panel of the Federal Court of Justice ruled against a lawsuit filed by a German citizen who was born as a female in 1989. The person now identifies as “intersex” and submitted a genetic analysis showing they were neither man nor woman. The panel ruled that German law would not allow entry of a third option of “inter” or “diverse” in the birth registry, and saw no reason to refer the matter to the German constitutional court. http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/germany-transgender-lgbt-homosexual-high-court-federal-court-berlin-2954470/ Australia – The first Australian national Trans mental health study In multivariate regression analyses done by Zoë Hyde, MPH PhD et al., from Curtin University , the factors associated with poor mental health were: sex identity (trans men, and especially trans women were more likely to have clinically relevant depressive symptoms, while experiencing non-binary anxiety syndrome); lower educational attainment; being unemployed; low income; poor self-rated health; wanting to take hormone therapy; wanting to undergo surgery; difficulty changing identifying documents and not feeling comfortable telling doctors about being trans gender. The findings of this study demonstrate that a substantial proportion of trans people experience alarmingly high rates of mental health problem and a high risk of suicide in this population. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bw0288_the-first-australian-national-trans-mental-health-study—summary-of-results.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Sweden – Study says high LGBT suicide rates not due to homophobia A study from Sweden has found that suicide risk among active homosexuals is three times higher even in a region highly tolerant of same-sex behaviour. This was published in the European Journal of Epidemiology. The behaviour of homosexuals often involves high levels of promiscuity and instability in interpersonal relationships, results in rates of 10-20{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} HIV infection of homosexuals living in urban areas, as well as elevated incidence of herpes and the cancer-causing Epstein-Barr virus, syphilis, anal cancer, and other diseases. https://www.lifesitenews.com/pulse/study-debunks-claim-that-high-lgbt-suicide-rates-are-due-to-homophobia

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Sexual Exploitation

Brazil – Nine year old girls selling their bodies

Near Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic village, girls as young as nine are selling their bodies to truck drivers. Some of these children are sold for sex by their own families and local activists are drawing attention to the reality of the young girls drawn into a life of prostitution and drug addiction. Sex trafficking gangs target the town and poor families are vulnerable. People are surprised to hear from town council psychologist, Gleyce Farias, that raffles were held regularly with the winning ticket holder’s prize being the right to abuse a particular girl being sold. A mother sold her 12-year-old daughter to marry a 60-year-old man for money and a 13-year-old girl ended up in hospital because of the abuses she suffered.

http://fightthenewdrug.org/the-road-near-rios-olympic-village-where-9-year-old-girls-are-being-sold-for-sex-photos/

Ireland – Minister’s comments on prostitution receive mixed response

Minister of State for Training and Skills John Halligan’s declaration that clients of sex workers should not be criminalised could lead to increased numbers of women being trafficked into Ireland, a lobby group has warned. Chief executive Sarah Benson said legalised, regulated prostitution such as in Germany and the Netherlands “has increased trafficking including in the regulated sector”. She added that the only policy measure which recognizes that sex work is “inherently harmful” and “inextricably linked to organised crime” is one which targets pimps, traffickers and buyers. Research published by Queen’s University Belfast in 2014 in which 170 sex workers were surveyed found that just 2 per cent of respondents supported the criminalisation of clients.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/john-halligan-s-comments-on-prostitution-receive-mixed-response-1.2745309

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Substance Abuse

USA – Significant pain increases the risk of opioid addiction

Results from a recent study, the first to directly address this question, show that people with moderate or more severe pain had a 41{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} higher risk of developing prescription opioid use disorders than those without, independent of other demographic and clinical factors. These results, from researchers at Columbia University Medical Centre, were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The researchers analysed data from a national survey of alcohol and substance use in more than 34,000 adults in two waves, three years apart. “These findings indicate that adults who report pain are at increased risk of becoming addicted to prescription opioids,” said Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical centre, and senior author of the report.

10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15091179

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160722092937.htm

USA – Edible Pot Sends Toddlers to Colorado ER’s

Young children in Colorado are winding up in the emergency room after ingesting pot-laced goodies left out by adults, doctor’s report. Children have needed to be put on a ventilator and admitted to the ICU. It sedates them so much that it interferes with their ability to breathe. Serving sizes are also misleading, both for adults and children. Full-size cookies and candy bars are sold loaded with THC, the intoxicating chemical in marijuana. Customers are advised to break them up into a number of smaller servings to prevent overdose. People have become more careless in how they store their marijuana following legalization of recreational use. The findings were published online in Journal of the American medical Association Paediatrics.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160725/edible-pot-sends-toddlers-to-colorado-ers

USA – Endless prescription: Suboxone, Subutex plaguing region

“We routinely arrest people for drug offenses and find them in possession of buprenorphine (Suboxone or Subutex) and some other powerful narcotic.” said Officer Tom Patton from Kingsport Police Department. The intended use of buprenorphine is to help people addicted to opioids achieve sobriety, by gradually reducing the prescription until the patient is completely drug free. Counseling and therapy are supposed to be provided too. That is not happening. “Greed is taking over,” said Dr. Randy Jesse, from Frontier Health. “We are hearing stories about doctors quitting their ER work, quitting their practice and going into the Suboxone business.” Frazier, a drug addict said, “We’re giving doctors the money instead of drug lords”. Another addict said “It just turns into maintenance”.

http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/386704991.html

UK – Number of opiate-related deaths in UK rises to five-year peak

There were a total of 1,507 deaths involving opiates such as heroin in 2014, according to figures released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics, the highest number since 2010, with a rise of 20{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} in a year. Between 2010 and 2014 there were 5,928 deaths involving opiates. The deaths cover all those that mention an opiate, except those that only mention methadone or buprenorphine, which are often prescribed to treat opiate addictions. There were 1,345 deaths involving methadone or buprenorphine alone. This casts much doubt on the UK’s drug policy, that implemented one of the first harm reduction strategies in the world back in the 1960’s i.e. needles exchange programs and methadone substitution therapy.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/number-opiate-related-deaths-teesside-11510771

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Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of Doctors for Life International

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Abortion Ireland – Parliament Defeats Bill to Legalize Abortions on Disabled Babies Russia – Government Signs Agreement with Church to Prevent Abortions Alternative Medicine No news today Euthanasia UK – Media bias on assisted suicide IVF& Surrogacy No news today Medical Ethics UK – Parliament to study freedom of conscience for doctors UK – What does Brexit mean for bioethics? South Africa – Dikgang Moseneke joins Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics Pedophilia No news today Pornography UK – British Government seeks to verify age of porn site visitors USA – 12 Year olds admit to being addicted to porn UK – Startup trying to solve bitcoin’s child pornography problemSouth Africa – Experts say child porn is increasing Same SexAttraction USA – Homosexuality Poses High Risks to Human Health USA – Your genes did not make you do it SexualExploitation USA – Study from US State department for 2016 South Africa – Decriminalization of prostitution not likely to happen Substance Abuse USA – Study: Marijuana use dampens brain’s response to reward over time

Abortion

Ireland – Parliament Defeats Bill to Legalize Abortions on Disabled Babies Life Institute spokeswoman, Niamh Uí Bhriain, said that this bill attempted to deny the humanity of unborn babies with disabilities and was a cruel and cynical exercise to push a much wider abortion agenda. Mattie Mc Grath said that “We all need to recognize that there is no monopoly on compassion when it comes to this issue. We all want the best medical and clinical outcomes for mothers and children.” “In light of that we need to be guided by the actual medical reality which clearly states that there is no legitimacy to the terms ‘fatal foetal abnormality’ or ‘incompatible with life,” concluded Deputy McGrath. http://www.lifenews.com/2016/07/07/irish-parliament-defeats-bill-to-legalize-abortions-on-disabled-babies-2/ Russia – Government Signs Agreement with Church to Prevent Abortions The Health Ministry has signed an agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church to prevent abortions and rather provide palliative care. The agreement was signed by the Health Minister and head of the Russian Orthodox Church. It includes the creation of crisis pregnancy centers at hospitals with psychologists and representatives of organizations from the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as “joint efforts to provide assistance and support to pregnant women whose prenatal diagnosis indicates a malformation of the fetus, as well as mothers who give birth to a child with developmental disabilities”. http://www.pravmir.com/russia-church-and-state-sign-agreement-to-prevent-abortion/ <Back to Top>

Alternative Medicine

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Euthanasia

UK – Media bias on assisted suicide As one might expect, media coverage of assisted suicide is skewed towards ringing-the-changes rather than steady-as-she-goes. However, when a proposal to adopt a neutral stance by British doctors failed by a huge margin, 63{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} to 37{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}, in June, it was only reported by a few blogs. So whatever the main stream media reports, the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of General Practitioners and British Geriatrics Society are all officially opposed to a change in the law, along with 82{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of members of the Association for Palliative Medicine. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/british-doctors-reject-neutrality-on-assisted-dying/11939 <Back to Top>

IVF&Surrogacy

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Medical Ethics

UK – Parliament to study freedom of conscience for doctors A new UK Parliamentary Inquiry into conscientious objection was launched this month, focusing specifically on the participation of healthcare professionals in abortion. The Parliamentary Inquiry into Freedom of Conscience in Abortion Provision will consider the scope of section 4 of the UK Abortion Act (1967). The so-called “conscience clause” of the act requires that “no person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement, to participate in any treatment authorized by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection”. Christian Medical Fellowship Chief Executive Peter Saunders welcomed the announcement of the Inquiry and encouraged healthcare professionals to submit evidence. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/UK-Parliament-to-study-freedom-of-conscience-for-doctors-over-abortions/11936 UK – What does Brexit mean for bioethics? According to the Christian Medical Fellowship, that the UK will remain in the Council of Europe (CoE) after Brexit is significant, as this is the umbrella organisation for what is known as the Committee on Bioethics, an influential policy body that seeks to apply principles outlined in the Convention on Human Rights and Medicine to new issues in medical technology and research. The European Court on Human Rights (ECHR) also falls within the purview of the CoE. Importantly, the ECHR has handed down significant decisions within the area of conscientious objection in healthcare. There are however, significant concerns about the effects of Brexit on UK public health policies that are underpinned by legislation from the European Parliament. http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/what-does-brexit-mean-for-bioethics/11934 South Africa – Dikgang Moseneke joins Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics Former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke who retired from the Constitutional Court in May has been appointed honorary professor of bioethics at the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, Faculty of Health Science at Wits University. Professor Ames Dhai said Moseneke’s ethical integrity would be invaluable to the centre in its efforts to further the discipline of bioethics. “His combination of qualities as a jurist and a scholar of the highest acclaim would support further growth and development of the centre and its many activities.  We look forward to working closely with him and benefiting from the valuable guidance and advice he will impart to us when grappling with the many ethical dilemmas which form part of our day-to-day work”, said Professor Dhai. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/dikgang-moseneke-joins-steve-biko-centre-for-bioethics-as-honorary-professor-20160624 <Back to Top>

Pedophilia

No news today <Back to Top>

Pornography

UK – British Government seeks to verify age of porn site visitors The UK government is proposing new legislation that will require all sites containing pornographic content to request age verification of visitors to their sites. Rather than porn sites putting an “18+ to enter” button that can be clicked just as easily by an 8-year old as a 28-year old, internet providers will access public information that will help to identify the age of the visitor. This is a huge step forward in protecting minors from the harmful effects of pornography. The motivation behind this effort is to keep children safe on the internet, preventing them from viewing material which is proven to be damaging to children. http://fightthenewdrug.org/british-government-verifying-age-of-all-porn-site-visitors/ USA – 12 Year olds admit to being addicted to porn A recent study conducted by the NSPCC ChildLine found that a tenth of 12 to 13-year-olds fear they may be addicted to pornography. Why is this happening, and why at such an early age? It’s all about accessibility and desensitization. Dame Esther Rantzen, founder of ChildLine, reports that young people are turning to the internet to learn about sex and relationships. Children are frequently stumbling across porn, often unintentionally, that it is having a damaging and upsetting effect on them. One girl reported being assaulted at age 12 by her boyfriend, who was addicted to pornography. Will Gardiner, CEO of Childnet and Director of the UK Safer Internet Centre, warned parents that they must face reality. http://fightthenewdrug.org/the-percentage-of-12-year-olds-who-admit-being-addicted-to-porn-will-shock-you/ UK – Startup trying to solve bitcoin’s child pornography problemWritten byAnanya Bhattacharya Obsession Future of Finance July 07, 2016 Bitcoin, a currency with the promise of anonymity and no government regulation, is a potential hotbed for nefarious activities. The London-based bitcoin startup Elliptic announced that it was teaming up with the International Watch Foundation, a non-profit in the UK that monitors online child abuse, to curb the cryptocurrency’s role in the spread of child pornography. Over the past years bitcoin saw an increasing amount of bitcoin activity connected to purchasing child sexual abuse material online. Elliptic’s role is to identify and flag all forms of illicit activity on the bitcoin blockchain. http://qz.com/725828/a-startup-is-trying-solve-bitcoins-child-pornography-problem/ South Africa – Experts say child porn is increasing Child pornography is on the increase and technology is driving it by immortalising images of abuse, over and over again. That’s the view of Dr. Monique Emser from the University of the Free State. Emser unpacked some alarming and highly disturbing trends such as an increase in the demand for baby porn, for live video streaming of sexual acts with children and for so-called bespoke material. Cybersex dens are also on the increase. With credit cards linking transactions to people, Emser says transactions are being paid for not with money, but with other pornographic images. According to Emser there was a 70{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} increase in child sexual material focused on girls under the age of 10 with abuse material involving toddlers and babies not being uncommon. http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/25fa9f804c3bd54282cddfc0c0d1c749/Childundefinedpornundefinedonundefinedtheundefinedrise:undefinedExperts-20163103 <Back to Top>

Same Sex Attraction

USA – Homosexuality Poses High Risks to Human Health According to a recent and extensive survey, homosexual people have “excess health problems. They suffer from “impaired physical and mental health, heavy alcohol consumption, and heavy cigarette use. The National Health Interview Survey included 69,000 participants and was published in Journal of the American Medical Association .The leader is Gilbert Gonzales of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The survey found that a sexually non-normative lifestyle takes a particular toll on women and bisexuals. Lesbians are 91 percent more likely to report inferior health outcomes and bisexual women are 100 percent more likely to report chronic health conditions including heavy drinking and smoking. The simple truth is that homosexual behaviour is harmful physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. http://www.afa.net/the-stand/homosexuality/2016/06/homosexuality-is-a-danger-to-human-health/#.V3UDwH5ginm.facebook http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2530417 USA – Your genes did not make you do it Geneticists, psychologists, neuroscientists and medical researchers agree that genetically dominated same sex attraction caused by a cluster of genes, could not suddenly appear and disappear in families, as it does. It would persist through every generation for many generations. If homosexuality is genetically dictated, homosexual practices will be identical or very similar in all cultures.  Sexual dimorphism of the brain mainly occurs at puberty and experts still have difficulty identifying structural differences between adult male and female brains, let alone heterosexual and homosexual. Studies examining effects of very high doses of female hormones to mothers show no effect on males and a dubious effect on women. Therapy changing levels of adult male and female sex hormones affects sex drive but not orientation. http://mygenes.co.nz/summary.htm <Back to Top>

Sexual Exploitation

USA – Study from US State department for 2016 “When we talk about ‘human trafficking,’ we’re talking about slavery – modern-day slavery that still today claims more than 20 million victims at any given time, all people,  just like everybody everyone else. They have names and families in many cases. However, they are enforced to endure a hell – a living hell in modern times that no human being should ever have to experience.” said a Senior State Department official from Washington DC. http://www.state.gov/j/tip/index.htm South Africa – Decriminalization of prostitution not likely to happen The Deputy Minister of Justice addressed the World Aids Conference and he said that decriminalization of prostitution is not likely to happen in SA any time soon or ever. He listed among other reasons; increase in sex trafficking victims, increase in the number of women drawn into prostitution and increase in foreign women coming to SA for sex work. He also said that South Africa is a conservative nation and if put to a public vote it would likely not be supported. This is great news and a step in the right direction to the total abolishing of prostitution in SA. http://www.rootshosting.co.za/docforlife/breaking-news-aids-conference-2016/ <Back to Top>

Substance Abuse

USA – Study: Marijuana use dampens brain’s response to reward over time Most people would get a little ‘rush’ out of the idea that they’re about to win something. If you could look into their brain at that very moment, you’d see activity in the part of the brain that responds to rewards. For marijuana users, that rush isn’t as big and gets smaller over time. It opens them up to more risk of addiction. The new results come from the first long-term study of young marijuana users that tracked brain responses to rewards over time. It was performed at the University Of Michigan Medical School, published in JAMA Psychiatry, and shows measurable changes in the brain’s reward system with marijuana use. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160706114407.htm http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.1161 <Back to Top> Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of Doctors for Life International]]>