Embryonic stem cell research

Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry attacked President George W. Bush for his views on embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), saying he is putting politics before science. “The American people deserve a president who understands that when America invests in science and technology and higher education, we can build a new and stronger economy for the 21st century … While the Bush administration has politicized science, (Kerry would) put America back on the path of scientific excellence with a commitment to scientific research based on fact – not ideology.” Bush spokesman Scott McClellan replied, “The president doesn’t believe we should be creating life for the sole purpose of destroying life” … Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Bush on ESCR, telling Fox News, “I feel, and I think the president feels, that the human embryo is three things: It’s living, it’s biologically human and it is differentiated genetically. And those three things justify saying that it has moral significance” … Among the 58 senators signing a letter urging President Bush to rescind restrictions on ESCR were pro-life Republicans Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Thad Cochran, Orrin Hatch (Utah) and Trent Lott. Dr. James Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, said he was “disappointed” with the letter and said specifically of the four pro-life senators that they “seem to have lost their moral compasses” … Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle (D) lobbies national Democrats to include support for ESCR as part of the party’s platform.


United States

Senator Barbara Boxer (D – Calif.) will propose legislation to require the Department of Defence to pay for abortions for women in the military who are victims of sexual assault. Current law allows abortions on military bases only in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother. The changes will also allow for taxpayer-funded abortion on military bases in cases of rape and incest, something that is not currently allowed … Congressional supporters of abortion sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell to get the administration to reverse its policy of withholding taxpayer funding from the United Nation’s Population Fund … Beverly Todd Nolte, a former vice-president of marketing and lobbyist for Planned Parenthood of Nebraska and Council Bluffs, has been hired to lead the Great Plains (Nebraska) Council of the Girl Scouts of America. Jim Sedlak of the anti-Planned Parenthood STOPP International, said, “It would be naive to believe that Nolte’s appointment is a coincidence, or that it won’t translate into a stronger Planned Parenthood influence over the young girls who are a part of this council.”


International

Dutch Health Minister Clemence Ross reminded doctors of their duty to report euthanasia cases after figures for 2003 revealed that for the fourth year in a row, the number of reported cases had declined, to a total of 1,815, down from 2,123 in 2000. Ross said it is unclear whether fewer Dutch patients are choosing euthanasia or whether doctors are just not reporting them … The Dutch government has added dementia to the list of permitted reasons for euthanasia … The Bulgarian parliament defeated a measure to liberalize its euthanasia law by a vote of 93-14 … Australian Health Minister Tony Abbott is considering restricting the ability of teens to obtain the abortifacient “morning-after” pill, which is currently available over-the-counter. The Australian Medical Association has welcomed Abbott’s move to reconsider teenage access to the drug … Statistics from New Zealand show that the number of abortion committed in 2003 rose 6.5 per cent to a total of 18,510. Carmel Armstrong of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child described the situation as “a major crisis” … Spain’s new Socialist government announced plans to legalize abortion on demand during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is currently available in cases of rape, fetal deformity or when the physical or mental health of the mother is threatened … The Arab League is considering a ban on all forms of human cloning. Supporters of the proposal hope that the agreement will be signed by all Arab countries before the September 2005 United Nations meeting on cloning … The United Kingdom’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has solicited opinions to decide whether to approve an application from the International Centre for Life to clone human beings for research … British scientists are lobbying the HFEA to not raise their licensing fees for embryonic stem cell research, saying many universities and charities involved with ESCR would not be able to pay it.