Ruling on late abortion figures challenged in court

That decision followed a campaign by the Pro–Life Alliance (PLA), which opposes abortion, for a full breakdown by condition, under freedom of information legislation. Abortion on “social” grounds is only legal in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Swine flu jab linked to rare nerve disease

Now the Medicines and Health care products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published a report that suggests that further tests are to be carried out. It reads: “Given the uncer­tainties in the available information and as with seasonal flu vaccines, a slightly elevated risk of GBS following H1N1 vaccines cannot be ruled out. “Epidemiological studies are ongoing to further assess this possible association.” It is not known precisely what causes GBS but the condition attacks the lining of the nerves, leaving them unable to transmit signals to muscles effectively. It can cause partial paralysis and mostly affects the hands and feet – but it can be fatal if it paralyses the respiratory system. A vaccine used to combat a different form of swine flu in the US in 1976 led to 25 deaths from the condition, compared with just one death from swine flu itself. Amid fears there could be a repeat, neurologists were asked to record cases of GBS in the UK swine flu outbreak. Millions … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Dads ‘cannot afford’ to take up new paternity leave rights

However, leading HR experts have claimed men – typically the main breadwinners of the family – cannot afford to take such a lengthy period off work and predict just “two or three per cent” of dads will exploit the new benefit. … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Ketamine is ‘magic drug’ for depression

A single dose of the drug Ketamine acts like “magic” lifting people out of depression in hours and lasting more than a week, scientists claim. … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Women mistakenly given breast cancer all-clear

Consequently the films of about 1,600 women were sent off to be reassessed externally. To date, of 1,477 returned, 1,302 have been told they need no more tests. Of the remainder, 130 have been advised to undergone further assessment. Of those 130, 49 have been seen so far, with 40 being told they do not need treatment. However, eight have been told they do need treatment and a further one has been told she has non-invasive breast cancer, which means it has not spread out into surrounding tissues. Carole Heatly, chief executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Our trust fully understands and appreciates the distress and anxiety this issue will have caused and apologies to all concerned. “We are undertaking every measure possible to ensure that we provide the best high-quality service.” Screening has been suspended pending a major review of the service. … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Death by Breast cancer rates fall by over a third

But while Britain has dropped from the top of the European league of death rates, it remains in the uneviable position of sixth worst out of 28 countries. It means survival rates are better in 21 other European countries including Romania, Estonia and the Czech Republic. Breast cancer still kills 12,000 women in Britain every year. British women remain far more likely to die of the disease than their Spanish, Scandinavian or Italian counterparts. Researchers in Northern Ireland, France, Italy and Norway compared mortality rates from breast cancer, as recorded on death certificates, from countries across western and central Europe. Their analysis, published in the … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Heart disease breakthrough could lead to new treatments

The study, the biggest of its kind to date, is so significant because it identifies the most important genes connected to high cholesterol, the biggest – and most preventable – cause of the disease which kills 87,000 a year in Britain alone. … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Is it safe to eat dairy or beef from a cloned cow?

Food Standards Agency (FSA) research found that most British people think that cloning animals is interfering with nature, and that the only winners would be organisations like biotech companies and food retailers, with no benefit to consumers. The public are worried about the animal welfare horrors that cloning involves, and concerned about the safety of food from cloned animals. Yet FSA boss Tim Smith says he has ‘no concerns’. Who is right? … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Huge rise in 11-year-olds on the pill

The number of 11 and 12-year-old girls prescribed the pill by a family doctor has soared five-fold in the past decade, according to figures. More than 1,000 girls in the first year of secondary school have been given prescriptions for the pill, according to figures from GPs, while a further 200 have long-term injectable or implanted contraceptive … Read ahead

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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