List of reviewers

– Library of the European Parliament – DG Presidency – the students of Bryant University, RI, USA – D Gareth Jones, Professor at the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology of University of Otago – Med. Dr J. N. – Sidney Altman, Sterling Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; Professor of Chemistry; Member of

B. Research with human embryonic stem cells (hESC)

B.1. Is it lawful? If the answer is YES, then ask: B.1.1. Can stem cells be taken from supernumerary embryos (embryos that were created for ART purposes and the source couple no longer need) B.1.2. Can embryos be created for the purpose of generating stem cells to be used in research? B.1.3. Can stem cells

F. Pain treatments

F.1. Are pain treatments available?

E. Therapeutic use of narcotic drugs

E.1. Is the therapeutic use of cannabis lawful? E.2. Is the therapeutic use of heroin (legally distributed by doctors to heroin addicts) lawful? E.3. Are heroin-equivalents available?

C. End-of-life decisions (Euthanasia)

C.1. Is a physician required to respect the patient’s refusal of life-sustaining treatment C.2. Is passive euthanasia (Refraining from performing an act, for reasons of compassion, that results in the death of a person—refraining from initiating life-sustained treatment) lawful? C.3. Is active euthanasia (taking positive steps to end life) lawful? C.4. Is physician-assisted suicide (patient

“Euthanasia: a continent divided” – A feature by BBC News

Europe is deeply split over how it treats its terminally ill. Here, the BBC News website shows the patchwork of different laws in force across Europe. Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Scientists and patients in Congress together. Online!

The national congress of Luca Coscioni Association has started on www.lucacoscioni.it. It is being held on the internet, in order to allow as much as possible the participation of patients and people with disabilities. The congress represents an opportunity to get points of view and update on the issues covered by the second meeting of

UNESCO Study on National Legislation concerning Human Cloning. Towards monitoring freedom of research in the world.

The International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO has recently published its Report on Human Cloning and International Governance. The Report includes an analytical “Study on National Legislation concerning Human Cloning�?, be it reproductive or research/therapeutic, in 57 countries from Argentina to Vietnam. For further info: http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12662&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Agorà digitale. An association for digital freedom and democracy

Last September 6, the first congress of Agorà digitale was held in Salerno (Italy). Agorà digitale is being supported by Luca Coscioni Association and the Nonviolent Radical Party to campaign for free internet as a due basis for free thinking. In an international perspective, the congress’ final declaration wishes a common transnational initiative for the

“Stem cell is serious science” by Barbara Forrest

We hereby copy a two-part article by Barbara Forrest, Department of HiNews & Political Science, Southeastern Louisiana University, USA. Prof. Forrest took part in the second meeting of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research. In this article she shares her personal experience of that event and people she met in Brussels, mainly Prof.