News,

UN diplomats are expecting a decision to be made within a week on whether to press for a vote by the UN General Assembly on a human cloning ban. Over 60 countries, including Costa Rica and the US, have sponsored a resolution calling for a convention against human cloning, though a counter-proposal to ban 'reproductive' cloning but allow 'therapeutic' cloning is being back by 20 sponsors. The Costa Rica/US text describes human cloning as "unethical, morally repugnant and contrary to due respect for the human person." [Financial Times, 29 October ] The remains of three children who died at the hands of Nazi euthanasia doctors over six decades ago were laid to rest yesterday, The Telegraph reports. The funeral took place 63 years to the day when 59 children from the clinic in Gordon, Germany, were gassed at a local prison. It is believed that 70,000 children with mental or physical disabilities were killed as part of the Nazi euthanasia programme. [The Telegraph, 29 October ] Scientists in Denmark have been granted permission to use embryos leftover from IVF treatment for stem cell research, The Scientist reports. Under the new law, the parents of IVF embryos must give permission for their use in research, nuclear transfers are prohibited as are therapeutic and reproductive cloning. [The Scientist, 28 October ] The euthanasia advocate charged with the attempted murder of her mother has said that Hollywood actor Demi Moore has expressed an interest in making a film about her. Lesley Martin claims that film producer Jana Sue Memel emailed her to say that Moore and her agent were enthusiastic about a film based on Martin's book To Die Like a Dog. [Herald Sun, 29 October ]