abortion
EXCEPTIONS: Almost 100 physicians have a signed a statement agreeing that there is no situation in which an abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother, debunking one of the frequently listed “hard cases” cited in the political arena as a reason why an absolute ban on abortion can not be justified.
(Reading: “The ‘Life of the Mother’ Exception for Abortion Is Bogus,” American Life League news release, 2/29/00)
MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE: Future abortionists-in-training have formed an organization to promote the culture of death.
culture of death
MASSACHUSETTS: The state supreme judicial court has ruled that frozen embryonic babies may not be given to the ex-wife over the objections of her former husband because, according to his attorney, the former husband did not want to father any more children with his former wife.
COMMENT: And we thought a child existed at fertilization! So much for intellectual honesty!
(Reading: “SJC Rules in Embryo Case, Man Wins Bid to Bar Their Use by Ex-Wife,” Boston Globe, 2/10/00)
PHILIPPINES: A Filipino pro-life activist reports that McDonald’s is airing a “deplorable fifteen-second TV ad. It shows a close-up of a bride in the middle of her church wedding, unceremoniously and surreptitiously gobbling up a burger.” And he adds, “The ad is anti-Christian, un-Filipino and trivializes marriage and shows how McDonald’s has very poor taste.'”
(Reading: 2/25/00 e-mail from Simbahayan, Philippines; comment directly to McDonalds)
WAL-MART: In a February 7 corporate letter to Judie Brown, “Wal-Mart Stores Inc.” states, “At this time we have made a business decision not to carry the product [Preven]. However, in the interest of meeting the needs of all of our customers, Wal-Mart pharmacists will refer any request for this drug to a pharmacy that does carry it.”
(Reading, letter from Wal-Mart, 2/7/00)
health care
LIFE SUPPORT: The University of Michigan has launched an “extracorporeal life support” project that is described as life saving. It is also known as “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [and] is the use of a modified heart-lung machine for days or weeks to support life and permit treatment and recovery during severe cardiac or pulmonary failure.”
(Reading: “Extracorporeal Life Support,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/16/00, pp. 904-908)
NEW YORK: Legislation that passed both the New York State Assembly (A7303) and Senate (S3131B) in slightly different forms, and is now in committee, would provide payment for “the creation of surplus embryos” among other things, reports the Family Observer.
(Reading: e-mail alert from Family Observer, 2/15/00; text of bill available from New York Legislature)
imposed death
WITHDRAWING MECHANICAL VENTILIATION: Medical doctors commenting on the ethics involved in such withdrawal with consent write, “When a physician removes mechanical ventilation from a dying patient who is not paralyzed, he or she is responsible for the patient’s death in the causal sense, since the withdrawal of the ventilator is the immediate cause of death. The physician is not responsible for the patient’s death in the moral sense, however, because he or she is acting with the patient’s consent and within a socially defined role and standard of practice.”
(Reading: “Pharmacologic Paralysis and Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation at the End of Life,” New England Journal of Medicine, 2/17/00, pp. 508-511)
science and personhood
PREGNANCY PARADOX: A protein (Crry) found on mouse embryos helps prevent the embryo from being attacked and destroyed by the mother’s immune system. This discovery sheds light on how the mother’s immune system functions during pregnancy and researchers hope that, when future research focuses on the role of proteins in humans, a similar finding will result. Though humans do not have the Crry gene, two other proteins, DAF and MCP, may play a role in protecting human embryos. The researchers explain that their research showed large complements of Crry on the trophoblast layer of the embryo. The trophoblast, the correct scientific term for the outer layer of the embryo, helps weave the boundaries between mother and child as the embryonic baby prepares for implantation. It is this outer layer plus the inner layer that compose the blastocyst, the embryo.
COMMENT: So, once again, we understand that the baby is NOT a mere part of his mother’s body. He is not a parasite.
(Reading: “Solving the Pregnancy Paradox,” Scientific American, 1/24/00; “Protein Protects Embryo from Mother’s Immune System,” Thrive on line, 1/20/00. For a complete discussion of the early human being whose life begins at fertilization, and the proper scientific terms used to describe him, see “When Do Human Beings Begin?” by Dianne Irving, Ph.D.)
stem cells
DIABETES IN MICE: Researchers report that stem cells have been shown to treat diabetes effectively in mice. The adult stem cells came from “organ donors – people who have died of various causes and donated their organs.” Such stem cell sources do NOT require the destruction of an embryonic baby.
(Reading: “U.S. Team Reversed Mouse Diabetes with Stem Cells,” Reuters, 2/28/00. Further reading: Nature Medicine; you must be a registered subscriber to use this site.)
MARKETING: The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has established a private, nonprofit subsidiary to distribute human embryonic baby stem cells (obtained only when the baby is destroyed) to “qualified scientists.” James Thomson, the biologist whose lab first isolated these stem cells, directs WiCell Research Institute.
(Reading: “New Institute Formed to Distribute Stem Cells,” Medical Ethics Advisor, 3/00, pp. 35-36)
united nations
NICARAGUA: Citing “discrepancies” in the nation’s family planning programs, the UNFPA has halted financial aid to Nicaragua. It seems the country’s minister for families and education minister have decided to reject the UN’s “reproductive health” programs.
COMMENT: Mr. Gates, will you help this poverty-stricken nation or will you support the UN?
(Reading: “UN Threatens Nicaragua with Blackmail over Abortion,” LSN news; story available online in Spanish; contact the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, asking them to intervene by agreeing with Nicaragua’s ministers of families and education)
vaccines
AIDS and the UNITED NATIONS: UNAIDS has released new guidelines for research on HIV vaccines. UNAIDS director Peter Piot claims “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all vaccine trials are conducted under the strictest possible ethical and scientific standards.”
(Reading: “UNAIDS Releases New Guidelines on Ethics of HIV Vaccine Research,” UNAIDS news release)
ETHICAL USE: Referring to our quotes from the Merck Vaccines letter (communique, 2/25/00) Chris Kahlenborn, M.D. points out that using human diploid cells from miscarried babies that are obtained with the parent’s permission would be moral. Merck chose to use cells from babies killed by procured abortion.
(Reading: 2/27/00 e-mail from Chris Kahlenborn, M.D.)
zinger
OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE A TREE? Population Action International (PAI) decries the damage being done to “biodiversity” by an overabundance of people in areas of the world where conservationists feel that population density threatens environmental balance. Amy Coen, PAI president, praised President Clinton’s new budget request for $542 million to international family planning programs.
COMMENT: Apparently people are disposable but rain forests are precious.
(Reading: “Human Population Threatens World’s Most Vulnerable Areas,” IPS news service, 2/7/00; Population Action International. The PAI study, “Nature’s Place” can be ordered on the site.)
reflection for prayer
By reflecting beforehand on tribulation and embracing it with patience, we form to ourselves an idea of it not as an evil but as a good conducive to eternal life. Thus the premeditation takes from us the fear of the evil that the tribulation excites. This has been the practice of the saints. They have embraced crosses long before they happened, and thus they have found themselves prepared to bear them in peace when they have come suddenly upon them.
-Alphonsus Mary de Liguori, 1696-1787
EXCEPTIONS: Almost 100 physicians have a signed a statement agreeing that there is no situation in which an abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother, debunking one of the frequently listed “hard cases” cited in the political arena as a reason why an absolute ban on abortion can not be justified.
(Reading: “The ‘Life of the Mother’ Exception for Abortion Is Bogus,” American Life League news release, 2/29/00)
MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE: Future abortionists-in-training have formed an organization to promote the culture of death.
culture of death
MASSACHUSETTS: The state supreme judicial court has ruled that frozen embryonic babies may not be given to the ex-wife over the objections of her former husband because, according to his attorney, the former husband did not want to father any more children with his former wife.
COMMENT: And we thought a child existed at fertilization! So much for intellectual honesty!
(Reading: “SJC Rules in Embryo Case, Man Wins Bid to Bar Their Use by Ex-Wife,” Boston Globe, 2/10/00)
PHILIPPINES: A Filipino pro-life activist reports that McDonald’s is airing a “deplorable fifteen-second TV ad. It shows a close-up of a bride in the middle of her church wedding, unceremoniously and surreptitiously gobbling up a burger.” And he adds, “The ad is anti-Christian, un-Filipino and trivializes marriage and shows how McDonald’s has very poor taste.'”
(Reading: 2/25/00 e-mail from Simbahayan, Philippines; comment directly to McDonalds)
WAL-MART: In a February 7 corporate letter to Judie Brown, “Wal-Mart Stores Inc.” states, “At this time we have made a business decision not to carry the product [Preven]. However, in the interest of meeting the needs of all of our customers, Wal-Mart pharmacists will refer any request for this drug to a pharmacy that does carry it.”
(Reading, letter from Wal-Mart, 2/7/00)
health care
LIFE SUPPORT: The University of Michigan has launched an “extracorporeal life support” project that is described as life saving. It is also known as “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [and] is the use of a modified heart-lung machine for days or weeks to support life and permit treatment and recovery during severe cardiac or pulmonary failure.”
(Reading: “Extracorporeal Life Support,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 2/16/00, pp. 904-908)
NEW YORK: Legislation that passed both the New York State Assembly (A7303) and Senate (S3131B) in slightly different forms, and is now in committee, would provide payment for “the creation of surplus embryos” among other things, reports the Family Observer.
(Reading: e-mail alert from Family Observer, 2/15/00; text of bill available from New York Legislature)
imposed death
WITHDRAWING MECHANICAL VENTILIATION: Medical doctors commenting on the ethics involved in such withdrawal with consent write, “When a physician removes mechanical ventilation from a dying patient who is not paralyzed, he or she is responsible for the patient’s death in the causal sense, since the withdrawal of the ventilator is the immediate cause of death. The physician is not responsible for the patient’s death in the moral sense, however, because he or she is acting with the patient’s consent and within a socially defined role and standard of practice.”
(Reading: “Pharmacologic Paralysis and Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation at the End of Life,” New England Journal of Medicine, 2/17/00, pp. 508-511)
science and personhood
PREGNANCY PARADOX: A protein (Crry) found on mouse embryos helps prevent the embryo from being attacked and destroyed by the mother’s immune system. This discovery sheds light on how the mother’s immune system functions during pregnancy and researchers hope that, when future research focuses on the role of proteins in humans, a similar finding will result. Though humans do not have the Crry gene, two other proteins, DAF and MCP, may play a role in protecting human embryos. The researchers explain that their research showed large complements of Crry on the trophoblast layer of the embryo. The trophoblast, the correct scientific term for the outer layer of the embryo, helps weave the boundaries between mother and child as the embryonic baby prepares for implantation. It is this outer layer plus the inner layer that compose the blastocyst, the embryo.
COMMENT: So, once again, we understand that the baby is NOT a mere part of his mother’s body. He is not a parasite.
(Reading: “Solving the Pregnancy Paradox,” Scientific American, 1/24/00; “Protein Protects Embryo from Mother’s Immune System,” Thrive on line, 1/20/00. For a complete discussion of the early human being whose life begins at fertilization, and the proper scientific terms used to describe him, see “When Do Human Beings Begin?” by Dianne Irving, Ph.D.)
stem cells
DIABETES IN MICE: Researchers report that stem cells have been shown to treat diabetes effectively in mice. The adult stem cells came from “organ donors – people who have died of various causes and donated their organs.” Such stem cell sources do NOT require the destruction of an embryonic baby.
(Reading: “U.S. Team Reversed Mouse Diabetes with Stem Cells,” Reuters, 2/28/00. Further reading: Nature Medicine; you must be a registered subscriber to use this site.)
MARKETING: The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has established a private, nonprofit subsidiary to distribute human embryonic baby stem cells (obtained only when the baby is destroyed) to “qualified scientists.” James Thomson, the biologist whose lab first isolated these stem cells, directs WiCell Research Institute.
(Reading: “New Institute Formed to Distribute Stem Cells,” Medical Ethics Advisor, 3/00, pp. 35-36)
united nations
NICARAGUA: Citing “discrepancies” in the nation’s family planning programs, the UNFPA has halted financial aid to Nicaragua. It seems the country’s minister for families and education minister have decided to reject the UN’s “reproductive health” programs.
COMMENT: Mr. Gates, will you help this poverty-stricken nation or will you support the UN?
(Reading: “UN Threatens Nicaragua with Blackmail over Abortion,” LSN news; story available online in Spanish; contact the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, asking them to intervene by agreeing with Nicaragua’s ministers of families and education)
vaccines
AIDS and the UNITED NATIONS: UNAIDS has released new guidelines for research on HIV vaccines. UNAIDS director Peter Piot claims “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all vaccine trials are conducted under the strictest possible ethical and scientific standards.”
(Reading: “UNAIDS Releases New Guidelines on Ethics of HIV Vaccine Research,” UNAIDS news release)
ETHICAL USE: Referring to our quotes from the Merck Vaccines letter (communique, 2/25/00) Chris Kahlenborn, M.D. points out that using human diploid cells from miscarried babies that are obtained with the parent’s permission would be moral. Merck chose to use cells from babies killed by procured abortion.
(Reading: 2/27/00 e-mail from Chris Kahlenborn, M.D.)
zinger
OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE A TREE? Population Action International (PAI) decries the damage being done to “biodiversity” by an overabundance of people in areas of the world where conservationists feel that population density threatens environmental balance. Amy Coen, PAI president, praised President Clinton’s new budget request for $542 million to international family planning programs.
COMMENT: Apparently people are disposable but rain forests are precious.
(Reading: “Human Population Threatens World’s Most Vulnerable Areas,” IPS news service, 2/7/00; Population Action International. The PAI study, “Nature’s Place” can be ordered on the site.)
reflection for prayer
By reflecting beforehand on tribulation and embracing it with patience, we form to ourselves an idea of it not as an evil but as a good conducive to eternal life. Thus the premeditation takes from us the fear of the evil that the tribulation excites. This has been the practice of the saints. They have embraced crosses long before they happened, and thus they have found themselves prepared to bear them in peace when they have come suddenly upon them.
-Alphonsus Mary de Liguori, 1696-1787