News, 25 April 2000
Christopher Reeve, Superman film actor, has called for the lifting of a
US federal law banning government funding of research involving human
embryos. Mr Reeve, who was paralysed after falling from a horse in
1995, said that all research should be funded and supervised by the
federal government. Researchers believe that cells from embryos could
be used to make new body parts or develop therapies for diseases such
as Alzheimer's. [22nd April, Reuters (from Pro-Life Infonet)]
A group of bereaved relatives is to take the British Government to
court in an attempt to halt passive euthanasia. 'SOS-NHS Patients in
Danger' will challenge the legality of British Medical Association
guidelines, drawn up in consultation with the Department of Health,
which permit doctors to withdraw food and water from stroke victims or
those suffering from dementia. The action will be taken under the 1998
Human Rights Act which comes into force from October and incorporates
the articles of the 1953 European Convention on Human Rights. [The
Times, 22nd April]
The Times newspaper has reported that police and health chiefs in
Britain are investigating more than 60 cases of unofficial euthanasia.
In the biggest case, nurses have claimed that 40 dementia sufferers on
a geriatric ward in Kingway Hospital, Derby, were starved and
dehydrated to death and a file on six of these deaths has been sent by
police to the Crown Prosecution Service. [The Times, 22nd April]
Altering diet and lifestyle may be an alternative to in vitro
fertilisation treatment in many cases, according the British
nutritional therapist Dr Marilyn Glenville. She has said that diet can
dramatically enhance fertility. [The Daily Telegraph, 21st April]
The treatment of elderly patients, and particularly recent concerns
about "do not resuscitate" orders, will be among the topics covered by
a national consultation exercise on the health service to be undertaken
by the British Government from today. Ministers will tour the country
meeting National Health Service staff and members of the public will
also be invited to give their opinions. [The Daily Telegraph, 25th
April]
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