Logo IEB European Institute
of Bioethics

Your reference center for bioethical news and issues

Beginning of Life Beginning of Life

News Abortion

US study: complications caused by abortion pill for more than 10% of women

A study published by the American think tank The Ethics and Public Policy Center reveals that complications occur in more than 10% of women who have used the abortion pill Mifeprex (the brand name for mifepristone) as...
News Fertility and Pregnancy

Spinal muscular atrophy: promising treatment administered for the first time to foetuses during pregnancy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a hereditary genetic disease characterised by the progressive destruction of the nerve cells that control the body's movements. Until now, treatments were implemented after birth to try...
News Abortion

Live births after late-term abortion are no exception

In Quebec, induced abortions during the second trimester of pregnancy result in a live birth more than one in ten times (11.2%). Of these live-born fetuses, one in ten survives more than 3 hours. These are the findings...
News Abortion

Prof. emeritus Dr. Bernard Spitz: “Abortion: between fundamental right and crime against humanity”

Prof. emeritus Dr. Bernard Spitz is a physician and professor emeritus at the Catholic University of Louvain, where he taught obstetrics and medical ethics. Dr. Spitz is the (co-)author of “Quand vous perdez une...
News Surrogacy

Italy recognizes surrogacy as a “universal crime”: symbolic measure or first step towards a global ban?

On October 16, 2024, the Italian Senate voted to extend the criminalization of surrogate motherhood to include the “crime of surrogate motherhood committed abroad by an Italian citizen”. From now on, Italian nationals...
News Medically Assisted Reproduction

Artificial reproduction: study reveals increased risk of congenital heart defects in children

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal (EHJ), children conceived by artificial procreation have a higher risk of congenital heart defects than those born of natural conception.

In the spotlight

All the news

Our Themes

Stay informed

Subscribe to our free newsletter!

Support the IEB

To carry out its activities, the IEB relies solely on the enthusiasm and motivation of private donors.

Any donation of €40 or more to the IEB is tax-deductible in Belgium, allowing you to reclaim 30% of your donation.