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Top story:

New end-of-life guidance inadequate

New end-of-life care guidance is problematic, according to a professor of clinical neuroscience at the University of Kent. Professor Pullicino writes that the new guidance issued by the National Institute for Care and Excellence (Nice) is no better in many respects than the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), which was discontinued last year. The Nice document  does not address the issue of how the dying are diagnosed. This was  a “core problem” of the LCP according to Professor  Pullicino. He also describes the section on hydration as “a disaster of misinformation, distortion and ambiguity with at least one major error.” [Telegraph, 3 August]

Planned Parenthood survive defund vote

Planned Parenthood has survived a vote seeking to defund it. First term senator Joni Ernst proposed the bill  following the recent undercover videos released by the Centre for Medical Progress, suggesting PP’s complicity in the sale of fetal body parts. The vote for “cloture” (closure) was 53-46, meaning that it fell well  short of the 60 votes needed to end debate and proceed to a vote. [Breitbart, 3 August]

Christian teachers should be silenced using banning orders, says MP

A Conservative MP has called for Christian teachers to be subject to banning orders. Conservative MP for Sherwood Mark Spencer has called for Extreme Disruption Orders (EDOs) to be used against Christian teachers who teach a traditional view on marriage. Those who say that same-sex marriage is “wrong” will be subject to the tough new restrictions which were drawn up by  Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May in order to curb radicalisation by jihadists. [Telegraph, 3 August]

Other stories:

Abortion

• Canadian health authorities approve RU-486 drug [Klamm, 2 August]

• Prisoner who sought abortion changes mind [Daily Mail, 30 July]

• Temporary restraining order on release of abortion videos [Yahoo, 30 July]

• State health officials ordered to inspect abortion offices [Daily Mail, 29 July]

Euthanasia

• New attempt to legalise assisted dying puts lives in the hands of judges [Daily Mail, 3 August]

• Shrewsbury bishop speaks out against legalisation of assisted dying [Premier, 2 August]

Family issues

• Video: Children raised by LGBT people speak out against same-sex marriage [Youtube, 29 July]

• LGBT books to be handed to state schools [Malta Today, 29 July]

• Court of Appeal dismisses two legal challenges to marriage equality referendum [News talk, 30 July]

Fertility

• Ghana: Soap opera broadcast carries subtle messages about family planning [Independent, 2 August]

Sexual ethics

• UN Goodwill Ambassador to give graphic sex education to 15-year-olds [Express, 2 August]

General

• 4D scan reveals behaviours in the womb, including “chewing and sneezing” [Huffington Post, 31 July]

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