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The article presents the author's views on a paper by Alberto Giubilini and colleague on abortion and infanticide. The author states that Giubilini and his colleague are correct when they point to the distinction between exercises in logical thinking and public policy. The author also states that many responses to the paper were mere outpourings of outrage to the authors as well as the editor of the "Journal of MedicalEthics."

This paper identifies and contests the thesis it takes to be the central premise of Giubilini and Minerva, 'Why should the baby live?', namely that rights, subjecthood and personhood have as a necessary condition that the undergoing of a harm be experienced. That thesis entails the repugnant or absurd conclusion that we do not have the right not to be killed in our sleep. The conclusion can be avoided by adding some premise or qualification about actual capacities for experience of harm, but nothing in the Giubilini and Minerva article shows that such capacities do not exist, as actual and not merely potential, in the newly born human infant (and indeed in the unborn human child/foetus). The present paper reviews an earlier philosophical attempt to deploy an awareness criterion of personhood, and proposes objections to some other aspects of the article under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Israeli law of abortions (1977) legally authorises hospital committees to decide upon women's requests for selective abortion. One of the law's clauses determines that abortions can be approved in cases of an embryopathy. However, the law does not provide any clear definitions of those fetal 'physical or mental defects' in terms of severity and/or likelihood, which remain open to interpretation by the committee members. This paper aimed to determine which ethical methodologies are used by committee members and advisors as they face the dilemma of abortion approval due to mild to moderate possible embryopathy. Twenty interviews demonstrated that they use mainly a combination of deontology and a contextual -- relational model. Their ethical considerations are both contextual such as the family's/woman's relational network and are influenced by the ethical principles of autonomy and in cases of late abortions the value of life. The findings reveal a paradoxical picture: on the one hand, committee members hold liberal perceptions and in practice abortion requests are very seldom rejected. On the other hand, the Israeli abortion law and practice of abortion committees is still problematical from liberal and feminist rights perspectives. This paradox is discussed further by reflecting upon the relevant theory as well as the Israeli context. The paper concludes by suggesting that within the specific Israeli sociopolitical climate the requirement for committee approval of what should be a private decision might be necessary in order to placate religious or other opposition to abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers various developments taking place in the field of medicine in Great Britain. It is reported that, a woman from the Republic of Ireland has won a court case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) against the restrictive abortion legislation of Ireland, to go for abortion. The government of Great Britain, as reported, had issued a white paper in July 2010 indicating that it will bring a value-based pricing policy for medicines by the year 2014.

This section offers news briefs related to medical ethics. In October 2007, Great Britain's Abortion Act will celebrate its 40th anniversary. In May 2007, a 17-year-old Irish pregnant woman was allowed to travel to Great Britain for an abortion in her second trimester because of serious fetal abnormality. On April 25, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

Focuses on issues related to medical ethics in Great Britain. Public health implications of immigrations and asylum seekers; Discussion on issues of abortion legislation; Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act; Details of the criminalisation of HIV; Information on National Health Services guidelines on chaplaincy and the provision of spiritual care.

The article offers information on various topics related to medical ethics as of March 2012. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published the clinical guidelines on the care of women requesting induced abortion. Locked-in syndrome patient Tony Nicklinson launched court proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales seeking the right to die ruling. A report published by the Royal Society of Canada recommended the legalisation of euthanasia.

Comments on an article about the inconsistency between laws that allow abortion based on the mother's will. Legal aspects of abortion; Law that governs the clinical management of fetus in the utero; Relevance of mother's consent for abortion; Rights of a child.