British Section of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life

• Shipman Inquiry Set to Rebuke GMC
• Illegal Organ Trade in Moscow
• Partial-Birth Abortion Still Defended In US Courts
• Unborn Victims of Violence Act Passed
• "Portugal Rejects Abortion Law"
• "Majority of Americans Pro-life
• UK Teenagers Say "Too Many Abortions"
• Russia Restricts Late Abortions
• German Doctor Suspected of Killing 250
• Palliative Care Doctors Oppose Assisted Suicide
• Recommended Reading

Shipman Inquiry Set to Rebuke GMC

In a letter leaked to Pulse, the Shipman inquiry solicitor, Henry Palin, has set out a catalogue of criticism of the General Medical Council under 17 separate headings, The Times reported on 2 Feb. 04. "The letter is a so-called 'salmon' letter, which gives organisations under scrutiny advance warning of potential criticisms... It contains the following. "It may be said that [the GMC] has leaned towards the preservation of a doctor's privacy and against the legitimate public interest in the conduct and competence of a doctor."

The Daily Mail reported on 24 Apr 04: "A surgeon who maimed more than a dozen female patients could have been prevented from practising years earlier." The GMC received warnings about Richard Neale's work in 1985, but decided not to take action against him. He was finally struck off for serious professional misconduct.

Illegal Organ Trade in Moscow

"Four Moscow doctors have been arrested for plotting to murder a patient so that they could use his organs for transplantation in an illegal trade which Russians fear is rife but which is seldom brought to court," The Guardian reported on 29 Apr 04. An incident at Hospital 20 prompted a widespread investigation of hospital practices.

Partial-Birth Abortion Still Defended In US Courts

The US Senate approved the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act by a 64-34 margin on 21 Oct. 03, and President Bush signed it, but it is still being contested in the courts.

Unborn Victims of Violence Act Passed.

"It is now a crime in the U.S. to harm an unborn child while attacking his or her mother" (SPUC News, 5 Apr. 04). President Bush signed the Act into law on 2nd April; however, homicide is primarily a State crime, as opposed to a federal crime, so "Americans United for Life", say it is now important for all 50 states to provide similar protection for the unborn.

"Portugal Rejects Abortion Law"

(Catholic Herald, 12 March 04). "The ruling Social Democrats and their primary coalition partners, the Popular Party, voted today against bills proposed by left-wing parties which would allow abortion on demand up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and up to the 24th week in exceptional circumstances."

Majority of Americans Pro-life"

A December poll conducted by Zogby International, a respected non-partisan polling firm, confirms that by a 53% to 36% margin, the [US] public supports the statement 'Abortion destroys a human life and is manslaughter."' This was supported by 68 per cent of Republicans and 43% of Democrats. (Life News.com, 18 Jan. 04).

UK Teenagers Say "Too Many Abortions"

"A survey of 5000 UK teenagers has found that young people are more pro-life than their parents and are concerned about the sexualisation of society" (SPUC News, 11 Mar. 04). "The survey, conducted by Bliss magazine, found that twothirds of young people thought there were too many abortions."

Russia Restricts Late Abortions

(BBC News Online, 16 Sept. 03). "A government resolution on abortion, approved last month, is the first restriction of any kind on the practice since a ban imposed by the State was lifted in 1955. Alexander Chuyev, a pro-life campaigner and independent deputy in the State Duma, described it as a 'small victory."' Abortion is still unrestricted up to 12 weeks.

German Doctor Suspected of Killing 250

"A German doctor who is facing manslaughter charges for killing eight of her patients is suspected of systematically inducing the deaths of hundreds of others in her care," the Independent reported on 2 Mar. 04. Relatives of some of Dr. Mechtild Bach's patients at the Paracelsus in Clinic Hanover have asked for a full investigation. ►[Top]

Palliative Care Doctors Oppose Assisted Suicide

Association for Palliative Medicine News reported in September 2003' that 726 questionnaires had been sent out to members and 610 replies received. 92% were opposed to physician-assisted suicide, as well as 93% rejecting outright euthanasia.

Recommended Reading

Forced Exit (revised and updated) by Wesley J. Smith, ISBN 1-890626-48-1, price $17.95 from Amazon - Helpful information for campaigners against euthanasia

Looking for Answers by Anthony Cole, ISBN 1 84104 0657: price £17.50. from Amazon. Dr. Cole, a consultant paediatrician and the founder of the Medical Ethics Alliance, gives a cheery account of his life and a brief blow-by-blow history of the assaults on medical ethics in Britain since 1967; useful for reference.