
blogs


Does abortion reduce mental health risks for women? The very latest research
Assessing the effect of abortion on women’s mental health is complex, controversial and findings are…

Paul Lamb’s tragic personal circumstances must not blind us to the deadly consequences of his attempt to undermine the murder law
A 57 year-old man, who was almost entirely paralysed in a road accident 23 years ago, is now seeking…

Doctor who killed seven new-born babies by cutting their spinal cords with scissors may face death penalty
The Daily Telegraph (see here and here) has this week run the story of a US abortionist who is facing…

Stunning 4,620% increase in Belgian euthanasia cases in ten years since legalisation
I have previously highlighted the rapid escalation of euthanasia and assisted suicide cases in the Netherlands,…

Engineering our way to a Eugenic Future
You may consider the following headline from a leading US newspaper blog last week to be rather extreme:
‘The…

The NHS, culture change, and Christ
Jeremy Hunt does not have an enviable job. Not only is he charged with putting into practice the radical…

The GMC’s new guidance on ‘Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice’ – how effectively does it address our concerns?
The General Medical Council published its new guidance on‘Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice’…

New GMC Guidance on ‘Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice’ still gives scope for sensitive faith discussions within the consultation
Are doctors allowed to discuss their personal beliefs with patients or enquire about their patients’…

Doctors should identify themselves online and respect colleagues and professional boundaries, says GMC
The General Medical Council (GMC), the regulatory body for doctors, has today published advice on doctors’…

World TB Day
One hundred and thirty one years ago today, Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacillus that…

Do you have just one minute spare to help defend the human embryo?
Thanks to a European Citizens Initiative (ECI) there is a new campaign across Europe which seeks to…
when doctors suggest death: an ethical response to clause 5(2)
The amended Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been published ahead of the third reading and House of Commons vote in a few weeks. Contrary to objections – including from some MPs who voted for the Bill with the hope of it being removed in committee – the Bill continues to include Clause […]
committee stage takeaways
The committee reviewing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has finished its line-by-line review of the bill. The amended Bill has been published, and it would be worthwhile for all health professionals to read for themselves what is being proposed. Nearly 600 amendments were submitted, but most were rejected. Of those accepted most […]
when choices collide
The National Health Service Act of 1946 gave the Minister of Health a duty ‘to promote the establishment in England and Wales of a comprehensive health service designed to secure improvement in the physical and mental health of the people of England and Wales and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness.’ Aneurin Bevan, the […]
bag babies?
Just as children conceived through IVF became known colloquially as ‘test-tube babies’, the work being carried out by scientists to create artificial wombs has been dubbed by a recent item in The Times as a quest to grow a ‘baby in a bag’.’ The piece didn’t really contain anything new except to say that only […]
Physician Associates: a personal perspective
Physician Associates (PAs) were introduced in the UK in 2003. The NHS describes the profession as aiming to support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) have a similar aim in supporting anaesthetists. Over recent months and years, there has been significant controversy over how these professions are or should be […]
Leading the NHS: Proposals to regulate NHS managers
In fulfilment of a manifesto promise, the Labour Government is planning to regulate NHS managers, and their proposals were out for consultation until Tuesday, 18 February 2025. the proposal The aims of this regulation, as stated in the consultation, are to make sure that managers and leaders have the right skills and values to support […]
Corridor care: A response to the RCN’s report.
I’ve heard health professionals joke about the ‘soundproof’ curtains around a patient’s bed-space, where confidential conversations are held behind flimsy fabric under the illusion of privacy. But in a hospital corridor? There is no illusion. Only illumination. Harsh fluorescent strips extinguishing any hope of privacy. Making night and day indistinguishable to those fighting for sleep […]
‘Judge Plus’ or just spin?
When Kim Leadbeater introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, she reassured the concerned that it provided ‘the strictest safeguards anywhere in the world.’ One key safeguard offered was the involvement of a High Court judge in the process of assessment. Following the assessment of two doctors, it would be for the High […]
GPs and assisted suicide
Be it enacted by the King’s most excellent majesty. I am sure the recent introduction of the so-called ‘assisted dying’ bills through both Westminster and Holyrood has caused us to reflect again on the interface of medicine, faith, and society. I, therefore, could not ignore the Westminster Bill’s standard introduction quoted above. Surely, part of […]
The Supreme Court steps where politicians fear to tread
‘What is a woman?’ It’s the question that causes even seasoned politicians to break out in a cold sweat. We are currently awaiting a verdict from the UK Supreme Court, which is attempting to settle the question legally, once and for all. The hearing is the culmination of a long-running case, initially brought by campaigners […]
a day of darkness and expectation
I was deeply saddened as the speaker of the House of Commons read out today that Kim Leadbeater’s private members bill had passed its second reading with 330 MPs voting in favour and 275 against. Many CMF members and friends have met each evening throughout November to pray that the Lord would prevent this outcome. […]
legalisation of ‘assisted dying ‘ opposed by the British Geriatrics Society
Ahead of the forthcoming second reading of the Leadbeater ‘Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill’, the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) has published its current position statement on this vital issue on 31 October, based on an open, anonymised, and invited survey of its cross-professional membership, analysed and delivered by an openly constituted and transparent […]