Category: News

Contentious system is running smoothly south of the border

Belfast Telegraph

Eilish O’Regan

Abortion was among the most divisive issues in the Republic of Ireland for decades.

It was regarded as politically toxic with various governments relying on the courts to rule on when termination of pregnancy be permitted or prohibited.

All the while it was a daily reality. Thousands of women from the 26 counties were going to the UK for terminations annually – over 3,000 in 2017. There was growing use of online abortion pills although they were illegal.

But since January this year, and the triggering of new legislation, abortion has been legally available in most counties in the South, at a level which only a few years ago many would have regarded as “liberal”.

It has not been without some controversy, but everyone is surprised by how relatively smoothly it is running. . . [Full text]

Organ donation and euthanasia make a good team in Ontario

BioEdge

Michael Cook*

There is a startling statistic tucked away in Ontario’s September quarter euthanasia statistics. A total of 519 people were euthanised from July 1 to September 30.

Nothing too surprising.

But of the total euthanised, it appears, from government’s sketchy summary, 30 donated organs. In other words, somehow the euthanising doctor and the transplant surgeons coordinated their efforts so that these people could give their organs to others. . . [Full text]

Medical professionals concerned their ethical rights may be eroded by health reforms

1newsnow

Nicole Bremner

The New Zealand Medical Council says it’s ‘up to the challenge’ of three controversial law changes currently before Parliament.

A new law enabling the terminally ill to access assisted dying, along with reform to cannabis and abortion laws, has sparked widespread and sometimes heated public debate.

“I think these (proposals) represent a potential challenge to the medical profession,” says Dr Curtis Walker, Chair of the NZ Medical Council. “But I know the medical profession is up to it.” [Full text]

Otago psychiatrists call on colleagues to say no to euthanasia

Voxy.co.nz

The impact of legalising euthanasia will be devastating on older people, the poor and disabled, according to two University of Otago psychiatrists who are calling on their colleagues both in New Zealand and internationally to oppose the move.

Consultant psychogeriatrician Associate Professor Yoram Barak and Senior Lecturer Chris Gale, from the Department of Psychological Medicine, have reviewed the laws and practices in every country with legal euthanasia and how they have been modified.

They found the most vulnerable – the elderly, the poor and the disabled – are disproportionate in their use of euthanasia. . . [Full text]

Questions remain over puberty-blockers, as review clears study

BBC

Deborah Cohen,Hannah Barnes

Over the past year, there have been mounting criticisms of a study into the effects of puberty-blocking drugs when used to treat young people with gender dysphoria – including concerns raised by Newsnight.

The study was carried out at the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) at London’s Tavistock Clinic – England’s only NHS youth gender clinic – and partly led to the clinic lowering the age at which it offers children puberty blockers. The clinic started recruiting young people to the study in 2011.

Puberty blockers are given to young people who are struggling with their gender identity. They work on the brain to stop the rise in sex hormones – oestrogen and testosterone – that accompanies puberty. These are the hormones that lead to changes in the body, such as periods, breasts or voice-breaking. . . [Full text]