NewsBriefs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft ruled that federally controlled drugs cannot be used to assist suicides. Right to Life of Michigan commends the Ashcroft ruling. Instead of offering death to those who are suffering, Right to Life of Michigan supports compassionate end of life care.

President of Right to Life of Michigan Barbara Listing said, "As our world, country, and communities change in reaction to the recent attacks on innocent lives, it is appropriate that our government step out of the business of facilitating the killing of the ill and dying. Michigan citizens voted 71 percent to 29 percent to ban assisted suicide in 1998, recognizing that all human life has value."

Brussels, Belgium – The Belgian Senate recently approved a bill that would make Belgium only the second country to legalize assisted suicide. The bill still needs to be passed in the Chamber of Representatives in order to become law, but the bill is expected to pass through the Chamber without complications. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 44 to 23 as the governing Liberals, Socialists, and Greens voted mostly for legal assisted suicide while the opposition Christian Democrats voted largely against it.

The Netherlands is the only other country in the world that has legalized assisted suicide.

Beijing, China – The Chinese government has banned the sale of the abortion drug mifepristone. Mifepristone, better known as RU-486, and marketed in the United States under the more catchy name of Mifeprex, ends the life of a unique developing child and endangers the life of the women that take it.

The Beijing Morning Post reported the notice from China's State Drug Administration, which ordered pharmacies to halt the dispensing of the dangerous drug. The notice said, "In order to guarantee patients' safety and protect their health, it is decided that no matter whether patients have a doctor's prescription or not, retail drug stores are forbidden to sell mifepristone tablets." The newspaper also mentioned that a number of Beijing hospitals had been treating women who were suffering from mifepristone's numerous and dangerous side effects.

China's government has wised up to the obvious dangers of the abortion pill while the FDA continues to support its horrible decision to make this life-threatening drug legally available.

Washington, D.C. – Right to Life of Michigan commends President George W. Bush as he proclaims November as National Adoption Month.

President of Right to Life of Michigan Barbara Listing said, "Each day of the year we need to applaud women who choose adoption and life for their unborn children. Placing a child for adoption is not easy; it displays courage and should be commended."

Right to Life of Michigan works to promote adoption as a loving option for women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Adoption Focus is a publication of Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund which concentrates on the many issues surrounding adoption. LifeBeat, the educational weekly radio program, regularly highlights families and agencies which specialize in adoption. And, the Educational Fund's toll-free crisis phone number, 1-800-57 WOMAN, featured in many print and broadcast pieces is yet another way for women and families to learn more about adoption.

It is estimated that there are 30 to 40 couples waiting for every one infant placed for adoption. Adoption is one option which allows life and blesses both the birth mother and adoptive family with the joy of life.

Washington, D.C. – A breakthrough regarding legislation on human cloning occurred in early November. U.S. Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle (D., S.D.) has promised that the Senate will be allowed to vote on prolife Senator Sam Brownback's (R., Kan.) anti-cloning bill. If Sen. Brownback's bill is passed, all human cloning will be banned, including "therapeutic cloning" where the clone's only role in life is to be used for medical research.

A bill identical to Senator Brownback's life-affirming bill, sponsored by U.S. House Representative Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) was already passed by a vote of 265-162 in the U.S. House of Representatives with bi-partisan support last summer.

Advocates of human cloning hoped this legislation would never reach the U.S. Senate floor for a vote.

To keep informed on important prolife legislation, join the Right to Life of Michigan Prolife Update e-mail alert. To join, Click Here

 

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