News,

Concerns have been raised that the National Health Service might have distributed tens of thousands of faulty pregnancy test kits, ITV.com reports. Dr Sue Ludgate, medical director at the medicines and healthcare products regulation agency said: "Clinicians and health professionals should not use this pregnancy kit and should retest those patients who may be adversely affected by a falsely negative result." The faulty kits are not available for sale over the counter. [ITV.com, 18 February]


Seven women on trial in Portugal for having abortions have been acquitted, BBC reports. The verdict found proof that the doctor had performed abortions but no evidence that the women had undergone abortions. The doctor had his car, medical instruments and money obtained through abortion confiscated. Pro-abortion demonstrators applauded outside the court. [BBC, 17 February]


An Australian IVF clinic has used pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to screen out and discard human embryos carrying a cancer gene. Nathan Runciman was conceived at the Monash IVF clinic in Victoria and allowed to live after he was found to be free of the gene. He was one of eight embryos created at the clinic, five of which were destroyed after being found to be carriers. Of the three remaining embryos, a further one was considered 'unsuitable for transfer'. [CWN/LifeSiteNews.com, 17 February]


A couple in the US have gained coverage in the local news for using sex selection IVF to create the baby girl the mother wanted. Dana Paschal said: "I love my boys, don't get me wrong, but they're closer to their dad than they are with me. It's more things they can do together, but I want somebody to do things with me, so that's why we really wanted a girl." Opponents of sperm sorting argue that a child can never be created to fulfil another person's needs. [CWN/LifeSiteNews.com, 17 February]


A US bishop has published a statement asking Catholic organisations in his diocese not to invite pro-abortion speakers to events. Archbishop James P. Keleher stated: "It is imperative that our Catholic churches, schools and institutions make every effort not only to support the pro-life movement, but especially to ensure that the public understand our unequivocal stand on this issue." [LifeSiteNews.com, 17 February]

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