News, 29 October 2003
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]
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