Post Mortem Insemination: Controversial Birth in UK

by | September 14, 2018 | Medically Assisted Procreation

Controversy recently erupted following media reports of a wealthy British couple who had conserved their son’s frozen sperm to produce a “designer grandson” by surrogacy techniques, following his death in a brutal accident at age 26. 
Without obtaining formal consent from the individual concerned, it is illegal to harvest sperm post-mortem in the UK. In this particular case, the frozen semen was sent to California without prior consent for sampling, and then consequently used with donor eggs and a surrogate mother. The 50 year-old couple was able to choose the sex, and their grandson who is reportedly 3 years old currently lives in England.
The couple contacted Dr. David Smotrich, an American fertility specialist to create their “designer-baby” grandson. He reports:   “They wanted a certain type of woman that their son might have been attracted to.” He continues by admitting “It’s very rare for a baby to be born from the sperm of a deceased person. I have only done this 5 times previously in my career. This couple was desperate to have an heir. They specifically wanted a male baby… “
This case marks an extreme example of transgressions in the reproductive marketplace and “designer babies”.
In France, the post mortem transfer of gametes or embryos is illegal. However, in 2016 the State Council gave authorization in an exceptional case: a Spanish widow was allowed to transfer her deceased husbands’ gametes to Spain for post mortem insemination where this practice is legal.

Euthanasia in Belgium: 98 Advance Directives Rescinded

by | September 14, 2018 | News

In Belgium the Dutch-language newspapers: “De Standaard”, “Het Nieuwsblad” and “Gazet van Antwerpen” have recently published statistics for 2016-2017 for rescinding requests for euthanasia. Ninety-eight citizens withdrew their signatures for advance directives for euthanasia, a possible option in Belgium since 2008.
According to Gert Huysmans, President of the Flemish Federation of Palliative Care, people “write their statements when they are healthy, underestimating their instinct for survival which reappears when they are actually ill.”
In its September 6, 2018 newsletter, the European Institute of Bioethics emphasizes that in the past 10 years, there have been 382 individuals who have rescinded or withdrawn their advance directives for euthanasia.
“In 10 years, 170,942 advance declarations have been registered, with 128,291 files currently active, plus 42,651 statements which have now expired due to the 5-year validity period. Among the expired cases, 29,842 involved non-confirmed documents, while the remaining part was due to death by natural consequences (…). For the period of 2016-2017, according to their advance directives, 58 people had euthanasia performed by a physician. The other individuals were in a state of advanced unconsciousness or “irreversible” coma.

Conscience Clause on Abortion: « Sud Radio » interviews Tugdual Derville

by | September 14, 2018 | Uncategorized

On September 13, 2018, Tugdual Derville, Alliance VITA’s General Delegate was interviewed by Christophe Bordet, “Sud Radio’s ‘Truthful Voices’” program. He comments on an opinion expressed by a gynecologist-obstetrician on abortion, which captivated the media.
Some quotes from the broadcast:
“The words supposedly quoted from the doctor are not his exact words, because he did not pronounce the word “homicide”. In fact at the end of the interview, he replied to a scheming question, where he was asked if making an abortion was actually equivalent putting an end to life.”
“Article 1 of the 1975 Act ensures “human beings must be respected from the beginning of life, this principle can only be exempted when deemed necessary and according to the conditions defined by this law.” The debate was focused on the word “life”. Is it considered as a life or not? Scientifically, I believe that the doctor knows it is. Just recently, I spoke to a gynecologist on the phone who exercised his right of conscience clause, which was respected. Simone Veil consistently upheld the principle that doctors should be able to refuse to practice abortions.”
“The doctor answered this specific question because he uses his right to conscience clause and no longer performs abortions. In his research studies and his practice, he fights for life, to take care of women and to protect lives; he can no longer practice [abortions], saying “it’s my guts that speas to me” – perhaps a woman would say her “womb.”
“I help some women, sometimes even after an abortion. And it is shocking to observe that propositions that previously existed to help these women no longer exist, and yet we all know that abortion is not an ordinary act.”
“The law has been drastically changed since it was introduced by Simone Veil. The 7-day period of reflection has been abolished, which had previously allowed some women to resist to ‘outside pressure’; probably from their partner, but also to economic pressure.”
“We are living in a paradoxical society: on the one hand, the Health Ministry warns pregnant women of the dangers of drinking alcohol for their baby (…) and on the other hand, women feel distressed and under pressure to abort. I don’t judge those who resort to abortion, sometimes in utter desperation, often grudgingly, but never in a trivial manner. “
Therefore, Alliance VITA wants to raise the issue: even if we do not agree on the very principle of abortion, regarding the respect of life, (…): couldn’t we stop squabbling in order to help and warn those in need of help? Everything possible should be done to prevent abortion, and to listen to the women who suffer.”
“This law was amended 7 times under François Hollande’s 5-year term, and all the clauses that helped avoiding abortion were removed. For example, the guide to help pregnant women, which was previously given at the first consultation for an abortion, disappeared. We publish this guide, and have asked the Health Minister to publish it again, but this has not been done. Alliance VITA, publishes this guide, and they are used by the social and public services. “
“Today, having an abortion performed seems to be a foregone, inevitable conclusion for an unplanned  or difficult pregnancy. However many women are seeking assistance: for housing, for employment, and support from their partner, but without psychological pressure, without social norms pressuring them… Women tell us: I am too young to have a baby, since now 30-year-old women are having babies. [At Alliance VITA], we simply help them acknowledge and fulfill their deepest desire. Oftentimes, this involves completing a full term pregnancy, receiving assistance, instead of reluctantly or grudgingly undergoing an abortion.”

Euthanasia in Belgium: Control Commission’s Report for 2016-2017

Euthanasia in Belgium: Control Commission’s Report for 2016-2017

by | July 20, 2018 | News

euthanasie belgique
On July 17th, the Federal Control Commission for Euthanasia in Belgium submitted its biannual report to Parliament, again revealing a sharp increase in officially reported cases.
According to the Federal Control Commission for Evaluating Euthanasia (“CFCEE”), in 2016 there were 2,028 cases of euthanasia reported and while in 2017 there was nearly a 14% increase: 2309 cases. Since the law was voted in 2002, the number has systematically risen annually. The following chart published in the official report demonstrates:
Graph: Number of declaration of euthanasia by language:  French, Dutch, Total
euthanasiebelgique stats
In most cases, those who resort to euthanasia are very elderly persons, with equal numbers of requests from men and women. Nevertheless, approximately one third of the requests are from those under age 70. Flanders has the highest number of cases of euthanasia (78%) compared to Wallonia (22%) with cultural reasons probably accounting for the disparity between the regions.
Generally, euthanasia is performed in the person’s home (45%), with 39% carried out in hospitals, while the rest are performed in nursing or retirement facilities. Most requests originate from patients with cancer (64%). The report states that the remaining requests are associated with “a combination of several conditions (multiple pathologies)”, and 15% of these individuals are at the end of life. Approximately 40 annual requests are for persons with mental deficiencies or behavioral disturbances;  decisions which are often debated in terms of discernment and autonomy.
Since February 2014, Belgium is the only country in the world to legally allow euthanasia of minors without setting any age limit. In the period of 2016 – 2017, three acts of euthanasia on minors were performed on 2 children in Flanders and 1 child in Wallonia. The children were 9, 11 and 17 years old. The commission’s report stated that these 3 minors “each suffered from incurable and particularly serious conditions that would result in death within a short time-frame”.
Some parliamentarians and some doctors in Belgium are concerned about this escalating rise in euthanasia.
But euthanasia supporters such as Jacqueline Herremans, president of the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (“ADMD Belgium”) and also member of the Federal Control Commission (“CFCEE”) evoke satisfaction. She declares: “Euthanasia has clearly become an ordinary everyday practice. This increase could possibly be explained by the fact that the law passed in 2002 is now more well-known by the generations who are most affected, and that the information is more widely available.” 
There is no official mention of any instances of abuse being observed. The report concludes: “The Commission considered that all the declarations received met the essential legal requirements and no cases were forwarded to the public prosecutor. The Commission esteems that in the past 2 years, this practice has not resulted in any major difficulty or instance of abuse requiring legislative procedures. ”
However, in reality, major controversies have emerged in recent months concerning the legitimacy of certain acts of euthanasia. A member of the Federal Control Commission even resigned in protest against a very contentious case.
For an overview of statistics, legislations and instances of abuse, refer to our report:
 

 For an overview of statistics, legislations and instances of abuse, refer to our report: “Belgium: 15 years After Legalizing Euthanasia”

[Press Release] French Bioethics: State Council Favors Individual Interests vs. Children’s Rights!

[Press Release] French Bioethics: State Council Favors Individual Interests vs. Children’s Rights!

by | July 11, 2018 | Medically Assisted Procreation, Press Releases

Following the State Council’s report, Alliance VITA challenges French President Macron to defend children’s rights which have been heretofore sidelined. In fact, the State Council intends to align with societal pressure concerning procreation instead of protecting the best interests of the child.

If French law permits this new type of filiation with 2 mothers, these children will be afflicted with a serious, definite discrimination of their civil status, without any paternal genealogy registered.

It is shocking that a group responsible for counseling the governmenton procreation subjects consents to adults transgressive demands from a small minority, instead of assessing an infertility prevention policy, (including environmental and behavioral causes). If they allow ART to be treated in a trivial manner, there will be an impact on children’s rights.

Tugdual Derville, Alliance VITA’s General Delegate states:

“These new recommendations give the impression that the group has little concern for legal coherence and justice for the most vulnerable. As if political pressure forced them to go back to the previous decisions… How can the principles which were claimed when the law was revised in 2011 to protect children, all disappear so suddenly? “

The State Council recommended avoiding “the risk of ceding to the least ethical position “, and to maintain “the basic requirement for a child to have a family with a father and a mother” and not to “intentionally create a child without a father, which cannot be considered to be in the best interest for the unborn child.”  This is the same consternation if the State Counsel recommends allowing research on 13-day old embryos. Such bioethical policies based on a downhill slope can’t make our society safe.”

On a point which deserves adjustment, Alliance VITA notes that the Council of State makes an absurd proposal that does not meet the demands of children born by medical assistance with donor, tested by the anonymity of gamete donation and seeking of their origins. This quest is tackled on tiptoe, by a proposal for access of non-identifying data subject to the consent of the donor and the parents. It’s scientifically absurd and virtually derisory; because nowadays, nothing can hinder a child from having access to his origins.

Alliance VITA continues to insist that the main principles governing French and International law must be respected, in particular Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that every child has “the right to know his parents and be raised by them as far as possible.“

Alliance VITA intends to participate in mobilizing efforts for bills to be passed in accordance with the child’s best interests.