Free Republic

ROME, DEC. 16, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Dr. Gerald Brungardt learned an unsettling fact when he came to Italy for an intensive weeklong course on bioethics. The palliative care specialist from Wichita, Kansas, was surprised to learn that the average Italian woman has 12 sonograms during her pregnancy. "It indicates our current fear of the non-perfect child," Brungardt said, "for which Dr. Bellieni has coined the term 'handiphobia' -- fear of the handicapped, the risks and realities of in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption, and neonatal/infant euthanasia." He was referring to Dr. Carlo Bellieni, a neonatologist from Siena and self-described "fetus doctor" who...

Science Backs Up Humanity of the UnbornDr. Carlo Bellieni Tells of Prenatal Suffering and DevelopmentROME, MAY 14, 2004 (Zenit) - The verifiable suffering of the human fetus poses serious reflections for doctors and researchers, and proves it is unscientific to treat "prenatal life as second-class," says a noted Italian neonatologist.Dr. Carlo Bellieni, in his book "Dawn of the I: Pain, Memory, Desire, Dream of the Fetus," published by SEF, addresses questions such as: What does a fetus experience? What are its rights? Is artificial insemination really harmless?Bellieni has spent years studying the suffering of the fetus and the newborn, as...

I recently told you about Jason McElwain. He’s the autistic high-schooler from Greece, New York, whose feats on the basketball court, in President Bush’s words, “captivated our country.” Not surprisingly, McElwain’s story is being turned into a movie. What is surprising is that this is not the only movie being made about autistic people. There are at least three other films scheduled for release or in production about autistic people and their families. The most highly anticipated of them is probably Daniel Isn’t Talking, starring Julia Roberts. Based on the novel by Marti Leimbach, it’s the story of a woman...

Interview With Dr. Carlo Bellieni ROME, OCT. 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- During its gestation the fetus is "already a member of the family and company for the mother even before being born," says neonatologist Carlo Bellieni. Dr. Bellieni of the Department of Neonatal Intensive Therapy of the University Polyclinic Santa Maria Le Scotte of Siena talked with ZENIT about his research on life-before-birth for his latest book "L'Alba dell'Io" (Dawn of the I), published by Società Editrice Fiorentina. Q: Until the 1980s it was thought that the maternal uterus was a sort of strongbox for the fetus. What has changed since...

In Vitro Children and the Risks They Face  Interview With Neonatologist Carlo Bellieni  ROME, JUNE 6, 2004 (Zenit.org).- In vitro fertilization, a practice that entails high risks for the health of a child, reflects a trivialization of conception, warns a neonatologist. In this interview with ZENIT, Dr. Carlo Bellieni, professor of neonatal therapy at the School of Pediatrics of the University of Siena, talks about the dangers of artificial procreation for the child conceived, as revealed in recent scientific studies. Accompanying his statements are key references to medical research. Q: What are some factors in the in vitro fertilization...