Dr Michael Irwin, the doctor who tried to help his friend to commit suicide, has been struck off the medical register, the Glasgow-based Herald reports.

The General Medical Council ruled that he behaved in an unprofessional, inappropriate and irresponsible manner when he travelled to the Isle of Man intending to give his fellow doctor, Dr Patrick Kneen, sleeping pills to help him commit suicide.

Dr Irwin, a campaigner for euthanasia, said: "I assure you I will continue to campaign to see a change in the law to legalise doctor-assisted suicide" [The Herald, 28 September ] Bush administration lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to ban the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.

The ban on partial-birth abortion was overturned in 2000 and was then reinstated and struck down again in 2003.

It will be several months before the case comes up before the Supreme Court, by which time Judge John Roberts could well be the Chief Justice and the replacement for Sandra Day O'Connor is also likely to be on the court.

[The Seattle Times, 27 September ] A bill to legalise abortion in Brazil was dropped earlier this month following opposition from Catholic bishops in the country.

Brazil is the world's largest Catholic country and abortion is currently forbidden except in cases of rape or where there is severe danger to the life of the mother.

The bill to legalise abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy was abandoned after opposition from Brazil's National Conference of Bishops and President Luiz Inacio Lala da Silva. The fight over abortion continues to intensify in other Latin American countries especially Colombia and Uruguay. [Centre Daily, 27 September ]