Latest Medico Legal News

Vermont Legalizes Assisted Suicide

On Monday, Vermont became the third US state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Peter Shumlin, the Democratic Governor of the small progressive-leaning

Suicide Bill Approved by Legislators in Vermont

A 'death with dignity' bill which will allow terminally ill patients to request euthanasia from their doctors has been approved by legislators in Vermont, United States.

Court Ruling on Morning-After Pill Likely to be Delayed Again by US Government

The right for girls and young women to buy the morning-after pill without a prescription could be further delayed after the US administration filed a

Abortion Provider in US Convicted of Murdering Three Babies That Were Born Alive

An abortion provider in the US has been found guilty of murdering three infants with scissors after the court heard that they were born alive in his Philadelphia clinic.

New Legislation and Guidance Needed for Healthcare Professionals Dealing With Surrogate Pregnancy

A new review published in The Obstetrician (and) Gynaecologist journal suggests that healthcare professionals are in need of additional legislation and guidance related to surrogate pregnancy.

Trial Against Breast Implant Manufacturer PIP Starts in France

Trial proceedings against five managers from PIP company, which manufactured the faulty breast implants which sparked a global health scare last year, will commence on Wednesday in France.

US Supreme Court to Rule on the Most High Profile Genetics Case in History

The US Supreme Court judges are currently hearing the most high profile genetics case in history as they have to decide whether or not to allow private

Indian Supreme Court Dismisses Novartis' Patent Claim for Its Cancer Drug

Swiss pharmaceutical giants Novartis has received a huge blow to its Indian operations after the country's Supreme Court dismissed a patent request for its cancer drug, Glivec.

Manish Tewari Expresses Confidence Over Passage of Food Security Bill

India's Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has reiterated that people will be able to access rice, wheat and other food grains at cheap prices after the Food Security Bill is passed.

UK Moves a Step Closer to Three-Person IVF

Britain took another step towards legalizing three-person IVF after the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) revealed that it has not found any evidence that such a practice was unsafe.

Pharma Sector Litigation Thriving in India

A leading attorney has said that India is a "hip and happening country" when it comes to litigation in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. "I

US Senators Looking to Introduce Legislation to End Pay-For-Delay Deals Among Pharma Companies

Pharmaceutical companies may no longer be able to secure pay-off deals to gain exclusivity in the American market with US senators considering a legislation

Three in Five Americans Support Historic Pro-Choice Ruling by US Supreme Court

Support for the historic pro-choice ruling in 1973 by the US Supreme Court remains high in the country with more than 63 percent of Americans saying that

Deaf Belgian Identical Twins Going Blind Use Euthanasia Law, Die in a Mercy Killing Pact

A decade-old euthanasia law was used in a mercy-killing pact by deaf Belgian identical twins who died after they realized they were gradually going blind, Flemish media reported.

Mentally-Ill Woman can Decide Whether to Continue Pregnancy or Not, Rules Court

A British High Court ruled that a mentally ill woman who is pregnant with a child will not be made to undergo an abortion as she has a choice whether or not to continue with the pregnancy.

Recent Law Simplifies Rules on Sperm Donation

Thanks to a recent legislation put forth by Nancy Skinner of Berkeley, life will be easier for California couples to conceive with a donor. Same-sex couples

Boy to Undergo Radiotherapy for Brain Tumor Against Mother's Wishes, Rules Court

The mother of a seven year old boy who has a brain tumor has lost her legal fight in preventing him from undergoing radiotherapy after a court ruled that

Belgium Seeks Change in Euthanasia Law to Help Minors, Alzheimer's Sufferers

Belgium's decade-old euthanasia law could be heading for a significant change that would allow minors and Alzheimer's sufferers to seek permission to

Illegal Hookah Bars in Delhi to Face Action, Court Assured

Civic agencies in the national capital assured the Delhi High Court that action will be taken against illegal Hookah bars in city restaurants. "A

Harassed Online Victims Not Protected by New Stalking Law in UK

The British Government has been warned that a new stalking law offers no protection to victims being harassed and intimidated online. For the first

European Parliament Says UN Should Not be Allowed to Control Internet

The United Nations should not be allowed to take over control of the Internet, European lawmakers have warned. International governments are set to

HeartWare Device Receives FDA Approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the HeartWare Ventricular Assist System, which is a device designed to help last stage heart failure patients who are awaiting a transplant.

Wives of Indian Workers in UAE Convicted of Murder to Sell Kidneys to Raise 'Blood Money'

Wives of six Indian construction workers in UAE are taking a radical step of selling their kidneys in order to raise over 1.5 million rupees ( (Dollor) 27,286)

Colombian Government Urged to Reform Violence Laws Against Women

A New York-based human rights association has urged the Colombian government to reform violence laws against women, stating that they are not enough to

German Court Hears First Lawsuit in Breast Implant Health Scandal

A German court began hearing on Tuesday the country's first lawsuit over a health scandal surrounding French-made breast implants that collapsed and were found to leak silicone into women's bodies.

Hundreds of Doctors in Croatia Linked to Corruption Probe on Pharma Company

Croatian Health Minister said hundreds of doctors in Croatia have been implicated in a corruption probe centered on a local pharmaceutical firm whose management and other workers were detained Monday.

Energy Drink Maker Sued Over Girl's Death

Popular energy maker, Monster Energy, was sued by a family of a 14-year-old Maryland girl alleging that excess caffeine in the drink led to her death.

Abortion for Rape Victim Blocked by Argentine Court

Controversy has been stoked in Argentina by a court order that barred a rape victim from having an abortion. The embattled judicial ruling came in

Delhi High Court Gives Panel More Time for Recommendations on How to Prevent Use of Banned Pesticides

An expert panel that will be suggesting new guidelines to stop the widespread use of banned pesticides in vegetables and fruits will be given more time

Delhi High Court's Decision in Favor of Cipla Challenged by Roche

Delhi High Court's decision to grant relief for Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla by stating that it had not infringed on a drug patent has been challenged by Swiss drug company Hoffmann-La Roche.

New Law in Germany to Allow Circumcision

A draft law to allow circumcision in Germany was passed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet Wednesday after a court ruling said the rite amounted to

FTC Charges Seven Computer Rental Companies for Secretly Recording People Having Sex

Seven companies have been charged by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States after investigators found that they were taking advantage of a

Supreme Court's Decision on Affordable Care Act to Put Financial Pressure on Safety-Net Hospitals

A new study conducted by researchers at Penn State and the Harvard School of Public Health reveals that the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care

Low Conviction Rate may Lead to Exponential Increase in Crime Says Ex-Home Secretary Pillai

Underlining the dangers of low conviction rate in the country, former union home secretary G K Pillai said that crime rate in India will increase exponentially in future.

The Lancet Special Report Shows How India's Patent Laws Are Under Pressure

University of London (UK) argue that pending cases against India's patent laws threaten public health and misinterpret international intellectual property agreements.

New York Rabbis Say They Will Defy Any Law Making Parental Consent Compulsory for Circumcision

Even as New York's health department considers a law that makes parental consent compulsory for babies to undergo the circumcision ritual, orthodox rabbis

US Court Rules Against Forcing Tobacco Companies to Display Graphic Warnings

In a major blow to anti-tobacco campaigners, an appeals court in the United States has ruled that the government cannot force tobacco companies to display

Right-to-Live Battle: Family Produces Video to Show Man is Not in Vegetative State

The family of a 55-year old Muslim man in Britain, which has taken his right-to-live battle to court, produced a dramatic video that shows that he is not in a complete vegetative state.

Right-to-Die Case Defeat for Locked-In Syndrome Sufferer

High Court judges have unanimously agreed that it would be wrong to depart from a precedent that equates voluntary euthanasia with murder. This means

Women's Groups to Protest Against Tightening of Abortion Laws in Spain

Women's groups in Spain have revealed that they will be protesting against the Spanish government's decision to tighten abortion laws that could make

Centre, Madhya Pradesh Govt Admonished by Apex Court on Illegal Drug Trials

The alleged illegal clinical trial of drugs in the country has been condemned by the Supreme Court, which said its "unfortunate" that humans were being treated as "guinea pigs".

Supreme Court Ruling Brings Relief to Healthcare Industry

The US Supreme Court's ruling upholding President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms brought a sigh of relief not just for millions of uninsured Americans

Polish Conservative Party Wants Jail Terms for IVF Doctors

The Law and Justice (PiS) party, a conservative opposition party in Poland, is demanding jail terms for doctors for carrying out in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Alembic Settles Dementia Drug Patent Dispute With Novartis

Indian drug maker Alembic Pharmaceuticals revealed that it has settled a patent case with Novartis over Rivastigmine Tartrate capsules which are used in treating dementia.

Man Sues Hospital Over Delayed Erection Treatment

Yale-New Haven Hospital has been sued by a Massachusetts man for the staff's callous attitude and not properly treat him for a painful and chronic erection condition.

Quebec To Sue Tobacco Companies for (Dollor) Can60 Billion

The province of Quebec on Friday launched lawsuit against big tobacco companies for more than (Dollor) Can60 billion to recover the costs of offering health care to people with smoking-related illnesses.

Three-Parent Child Proposals Under Consideration in Britain

The British government is currently considering whether to approve controversial procedures that could make three-parent child a reality. Two procedures,

Australia Says Plain Cigarette Packaging is Anti-Cancer and Not Anti-Trade

Australia has put on a defiant stand against complaints by Ukraine and Honduras made to the World Trade Organization over its decision to enforce plain

Smoking Ban in Public Places Sees Drop in Number of Smokers by Five Percent

Banning smoking in public places has had a positive effect in Spain with the percent of smokers decreasing by five percent since Law 42/2010 came into effect.

Chinese Patient to Get 60,000 Yuan Compensation from Hospital After Swallowing Doctor's Syringe

A Chinese man is suing a hospital for 60,000 yuan ( (Dollor) 9,500) in compensation after the hospital authorities admitted that they made a mistake when the man