Representatives of different faiths frequently intervene in debates around fertility and assisted reproduction, with religious perspectives cited in recent months both in support of and in opposition to the UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill. But religious attitudes towards the human embryo are not always well understood, and can be counterintuitive. This is particularly true when views of the embryo differ not only between the world’s major religions, but also according to different denominations and traditions within each religion.  (Conference Website)

9.30am-5pm, Wednesday 19 November 2008

Clifford Chance, 10 Upper Bank St, London, E14 5JJ

The family of Janet Rivera wants her to live. The doctors wanted her to die. The County Conservator sided with the doctors. He ordered her respirator and feeding tube removed. She didn’t die over more than ten days. The family begged to put her feeding tube back. The powers that be refused. Finally, litigation ensued. A judge ordered the tube feeding restored. Today, a cousin got conservatorship. Hopefully that will end the case. From the story:

Janet Rivera’s cousin, Suzanne Emrich of Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County, was granted conservatorship in the high-profile case this morning. Emrich and the Fresno County Public Guardian’s Office reached the deal, sealed in court. Rivera, 46, has been comatose for two years following a heart attack. It’s unclear what Rivera’s preferences about life support would be.

The county removed her from life support July 11 over her family’s objections. Life support was reinstated July 23.

Imagine reading this ten years ago, and it would have been unthinkable: A family begged to have their loved one’s life maintained, and until a judge got involved, their pleas fell on deaf ears. And who knows the extent of harm caused by more than a week without food and water. Such is the nature of the culture of death that this way comes.

New statistical analyses of the National Institutes of Health’s peer review process suggest that the current system may be missing the mark on funding the right proposals. (The Scientist)

The majority of general internists and pediatricians in the United States are not comfortable serving as primary care providers for young adults with complex chronic illnesses that originate during childhood, according to findings from a new national survey. (PhysOrg)

Declining enrollment in USA and West European countries has led the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to turn towards India and other Asian countries to conduct clinical trials for faster launch of drugs in the market. (MeriNews)

Gene silencing techniques and induced pluripotent stem cell technology are among the cutting-edge approaches to Parkinson’s drug development funded through The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Rapid Response Innovation Awards 2008. (MarketWatch)

The relationship is the cornerstone of the medical system — nobody can be helped if doctors and patients aren’t getting along. But increasingly, research and anecdotal reports suggest that many patients don’t trust doctors. (New York Times)

U.S. policies and cash may be leading the fight against AIDS globally, but they have neglected the epidemic among black Americans, the Black AIDS Institute said in a report released on Tuesday. (MSNBC)