News, The number of abortions in Scotland was the highest ever last year with more than 13,700 performed, nearly four percent more than in 2006. A quarter of abortions were repeats and terminations on under-16s rose. The Catholic church said the news was disheartening and the numbers "beyond the i...

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News, The House of Lords has rejected the requirement for consideration of a child's need for a father when offering IVF treatment. While debating the British government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) bill, peers agreed, without a vote, to replace references in the HFE Act of 1990 to "...

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News, Official figures show that the number of abortions carried out in Scotland is continuing to rise. There were 13,081 so-called therapeutic abortions in Scotland in 2006 compared with 12,603 in 2005. The rate is highest among women aged 16 to 19 (24.1 per 1000), and those aged 20 to 24 (23.6 p...

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News, A South Korean pioneer of human cloning has apologised and resigned from all his official posts after admitting that he used ova from paid donors and donated by women from his research team. Earlier in the month, a researcher from the University of Pittsburgh ended his collaboration with Hwa...

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News, The lower house of the UK parliament is expected soon to debate the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill, possibly the week after next. [LifeNews, 29 April] MPs will be lobbied on the bill at the House of Commons on 14 May and a guide to lobbying is available from SPUC ...

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News, The body which regulates human embryology research in the UK has launched a public consultation on whether scientists should be allowed to create human-animal hybrids for research. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has produced a consultation paper explaining future po...

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News, SPUC gives cautious welcome to reports that TV abortion advertising proposals have been shelved It has been reported that Britain's broadcast regulator BCAP (Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice) has shelved proposals for TV advertising by abortion agencies. BCAP's statement suggests...

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News, A newspaper predicts that more than 200 UK MPs could support a reduction in the time-limit for abortion of non-disabled babies. The change could be made by an amendment to the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) bill, with other MPs abstaining. Our source points out that, o...

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News, A report by UK MPs recommends that the requirement for two doctors to authorise an abortion should be abolished, while the 24-week upper time limit [which applies only to abortions for the weakest grounds] should not be reduced. The committee for science and technology also advocates that nu...

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News, The Mental Capacity Act has come into force in England and Wales, giving statutory authority to advance refusals of treatment (living wills). A leading lawyer in the field has warned that medical staff who do not follow so-called living wills could be disciplined, if not actually prosecuted....

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News, Britain legalised abortion just over 39 years ago. A group of physicians have drawn attention to research suggesting that abortion can increase the risk of mental problems in women. In a letter to the Times newspaper, the 15 doctors wrote that women should be warned about the psychological p...

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News, Geoff Hoon MP, Leader of the House, has said that the government will not establish a joint Lords-Commons enquiry into late-term abortions. A enquiry had been requested by the Chairman of the House of Commons' select committee for science and technology Phil Willis, MP for Harrogate and Knar...

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News, Top storiesNext Wednesday 9 December, SPUC supporters will be holding a vigil outside the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France between 9am and 12 noon. Anyone who wishes to join the vigil should be near the main entrance of the court by 9am. The vigil is being held as the cou...

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News, SPUC has warned that Mr Gordon Brown's new British government may be as anti-life as that of Mr Tony Blair, his predecessor as prime minister. Anthony Ozimic, SPUC political secretary, commented: "Mr Brown has voted consistently in favour of abortion. In 1990, he voted with the pro-abortion ...

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News, The Pope has said that there is never any justification for abortion. Addressing the new German ambassador to the Holy See, Benedict XVI said: "[A] life with handicap has equal value and is wanted by the Lord, there is never any guarantee for a life without physical, psychical or mental limi...

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Pro-Li 21 July 2006 American health workers decline to perform procedures on conscientious grounds Rob Stein writes in the Washington Post on how patients are suing, medics are claiming they are being discriminated against on religious grounds, and legislators are considering defending conscientiou...

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News, The Mental Capacity Act 2005 comes partially into effect in England and Wales this month, and the Daily Mail reports on serious concern from several doctors opposed to elements in the Act which would give legally binding force to living wills and healthcare powers of attorney. Dr Peter Saund...

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News, Irish presidential race needs someone like Dana, argues columnist An Irish columnist has said that the Irish presidential race needs someone like Dana Rosemary Scallon, the pro-life politician. Andrew Lynch wrote that the existing candidates have failed to excite public opinion. He said tha...

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News, National Right to Life wants to stop Senator Barack Obama, the de facto Democrat candidate, from being elected US president. Ms Karen Cross, political director, says he would vigorously promote abortion. Mr Obama would reportedly sign an act to make abortion federal law, overturning states' ...

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News, An amendment that would remove foetal abnormality as a ground for abortion has been tabled in the House of Lords. Baroness Masham of Ilton, who is disabled, has proposed the amendment to the British government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in order to remove the discrimination th...

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