According to a decree, which should be published today, trained practitioners will be authorized to perform this method of abortion in a hospital environment up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.
- A decree will extend the possibility, for trained midwives, of performing instrumental abortions in health establishments.
- Like doctors, practitioners will not be able to intervene beyond 16 weeks of amenorrhea, or 14 weeks of pregnancy.
- This measure will make it possible to fight “against the difficulties of access” to abortion in certain territories, according to the Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau.
Since the law of January 17, 1975, known as the “Veil” law, voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG) has been authorized in France. Thus, all pregnant women have the right to abort without having to provide justification. In March 2022, a law aimed at strengthening the right to abortion made it possible to extend the legal period from 12 to 14 weeks (i.e. 16 weeks after the first day of the last period).
Instrumental abortion: midwives will be able to perform it up to 16 weeks of amenorrhea
Another measure was approved during the vote last year: the practice by midwives of the voluntary termination of instrumental pregnancy, which is based on the dilation of the cervix and the evacuation of the uterine contents by aspiration, within the health establishments. As a reminder, since 2016, practitioners have only been authorized to carry out the medicinal method, which consists of taking medication causing the termination of the pregnancy and the expulsion of the embryo.
Before all health professionals, who provide surveillance and medical monitoring of pregnancy, are authorized to perform instrumental abortions, this skill was tested in 26 health establishments for a little over a year. This Thursday, December 14 marks the end of the experiment, but also the publication of the decree which will extend the possibility, for trained midwives, of carrying out the instrumental method of abortion in a hospital environment. Just like doctors, practitioners will not be able to intervene beyond 16 weeks of amenorrhea.
“A strong response to the difficulties of access” to abortion
“This new skill constitutes a strong response to the access difficulties observed in certain territories”, has indicated the Minister of HealthAurélien Rousseau, last Tuesday, who also announced a 25% increase in the prices paid to health establishments for carrying out abortions.
During a visit this week to one of the first pilot establishments, Bérangère Couillard, Minister responsible for Equality between women and men, specified,AFPthat in certain territories, notably Mayenne, “abortion is not possible because there is a lack of practitioners.” She hopes that midwives trained in the instrumental method “will be numerous.”
