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A subsequent set of country reports together with synoptic tables will help getting the state of: A. assisted reproduction technologies (ART); B. research with human embryonic stem cells (hESC); C. end-of-life decisions; D. abortion and contraception; E. therapeutic uses of narcotic drugs; F. pain treatments

Step 1. Choose one or more countries from the attached FIPS list. Highlighted countries have already been analyzed.

Step 2. Communicate by e-mail info@freedomofresearch.org what country/ies you intend to analyze. Please note that some countries have already been taken (see list below), in that case you could peer-review them.

Step 3. Fill in the attached “Country synoptic table”. Should you need any clarification do not hesitate to ask.

Step 4.Try to score your answers (see the “Points” column in the “Country synoptic table”) according to the “Points” sheet (attached).

Step 5. When you are ready send the complete form by e-mail info@freedomofresearch.org. In case you give up please tell so that someone else can pick up “your” country.

How to peer-review a country already surveyed: As you can notice some answers are missing, some others are incomplete, in some cases we are not able to say whether something is allowed or prohibited, just stating “yes” or “no”. We would be highly thankful if you could help us peer-reviewing the synoptic table related to the country you are interested in and completing it. You may complete info concerning your field of activity, bring us into contact with someone else or just give us some hint… In case you complete the table kindly make sure that you highlight your notes.

NEW!Israel and Finland have already been taken and are being analyzed! 14 countries need peer review: 1. Sweden 2. Poland 3. United Kingdom 4. United States 5. Italy 6. New South Wales (Australia)7. Brazil 8. Quebec (Canada) 9. India 10. Ireland 11. New Zealand 12. Panama 13. South Africa 14. Spain. Almost 250 more countries are still to be searched out.

The goal is to research and measure in various countries around the world the freedom that relevant actors enjoy in engaging in a number of activities having to do with biomedical research and health care. In some instances, actions from any of these areas may be exercised only under certain conditions; in other instances, actions are prohibited or substantially limited, thus taking away the freedom to engage in such activities. Sources may include laws and regulations, case law, articles in the scientific press or the popular press, newspapers, interviews with knowledgeable people in the research country. In short, final country reports aim to provide a picture of the entire “enabling environment�? in which researchers and health care professionals operate freely.

From the call to action of Carmen Sorrentino, coordinator of the activities of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research: “As far as it concerns the monitoring the state of freedom of research and care in the world, we face a set of difficulties that hinder this challenging project that we will for sure realize according to the final declaration of the second meeting of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research we held last March. We have probably time to do it by next meeting in two-three years, but frankly speaking we are keen to do it now. One criticality is the creation of the website that should host this analysis and intellectual contributions by scholars worldwide. It would be much easier if some engineer or programmer helped us re-launching the World Congress’ website. A website showing a map or comparing data could help catching the attention of scholars by showing to them what others have done. Provided that we could recruit a professional, we are trying to get this help pro-bono. We also published some calls for apprentices but nobody answered. Any idea? Meanwhile thanks to a study by the European Parliament and a pilot project by Andrea Boggio of Boston’s Cell, we have gathered data about the following issues: (1) assisted reproduction technologies; (2) research with human embryonic stem cells; (3) end-of-life decisions; (4) abortion and contraception; (5) Therapeutic uses of narcotic drugs; (6) Pain treatments, regarding 14 countries: Sweden, Poland, United Kingdom, United States, Italy, New South Wales (Australia), Brazil, Quebec (Canada), India, Ireland, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa and Spain. According to the list of FIPS countries almost 250 more countries are still to be searched out. Apart from the website a list of questions is available in file and could be used to get data concerning those issues in unknown countries. Any scholar, student or professor could help gathering them. Most of all we need to address countries outside the Euro-Atlantic area we usually focus on due to a similarity of civilizations but also due to the obstacle of language. What I suggest is that you Chinese-, Arab-, Russian- or Portuguese-speakers join us, we need you to address countries which would be otherwise inaccessible from the point of view of culture and language. I guess everybody has friends studying or working abroad, you could recruit them. I will give you guidelines and outlines, you will give us ideas and action. In general I have learnt that we don’t need to build rigid networks, what we need is the power of movement”.

(Our initiative is still in progress, hence your help and patience are all the more welcome. Your help would be fully acknowledged on our website and bulletin, not to mention the final report on freedom of research in the world.)