1. The stem cell debate continues to rage on, and scientists have found stem cells in placenta. I think recycling the placenta is a good idea, and if these stem cells are useful, then we'd have a ton more lines to do research on. By the way, a little googling has turned up other uses for placenta, including: eating it, using the blood vessels for neurosurgery and using it in skin care lotions.
2. By now I'm sure you know of the debate going on due to the RU-486 patient deaths. Of course, the far-right is calling for the repeal of the FDA approval, while statistics show that RU-486 is still incredibly safe. The issue seems to be post-abortion infections, which seems to me to be a follow-up care issue, not a drug issue. Again, I don't know where these women went for follow-up care, and if they followed instructions, but I'd hate to see that any of them went to a regular old ER, and that they got turned away, like that poor Holly Patterson a few years ago.
Further, it appears that only one of the drugs is under investigation - misoprostol. Misoprostol's discovered use as an abortifacient was discovered after it's use & approval for ulcers. It is used in OB/GYN because it causes contractions, but in other ways besides as part of RU-486. According to the Discovery Health program I saw the other day (that channel is now the delivery channel - aren't there other health issues besides pregnancy?) misoprostol can be given to women to induce labor.
3. And in the UK, fertility laws are going to be revisited. One of the issues is that websites can sell sperm without testing it for STDs or genetic problems. These banks are not currently regulated under the UK fertility laws.