In the process of being banned in several states of the United States, abortion has been legal in France since 1980. How does an abortion take place?
- Abortion is still prohibited in nearly twenty countries, particularly in many African nations, including Egypt, Senegal, Gabon, Madagascar and Mauritania.
- Around the world, more than 25 million dangerous abortions are still performed each year, making it the third leading cause of maternal mortality on the globe, according to Le Monde.
- In Brazil, abortion is only authorized in cases of rape, risk to the mother or serious malformation of the fetus.
The Supreme Court of the United States buried, last week, the right to abortion provided for since 1973 by thearrested Roe vs. Wade : each State will now be able to decide alone to take measures to prohibit voluntary terminations of pregnancy (abortion) on its territory.
A historic setback in women’s rights which prompted Aurore Bergé, leader of the LREM deputies, to immediately table a bill aimed at enshrining the right to abortion in the Constitution. A sanctuary of the text intended to protect the French law “from the reversals” which could occur in the future, declared the elected to France Inter.
For now, what does the law provide for abortion?
Surgical or medical
In France, it is the Veil law of January 17, 1975, which officially launched the freedom to abort, definitively legalized on January 1, 1980. It provides that a pregnant woman (including a minor) who does not wish to continue a pregnancy may request interruption, after two compulsory consultations with a doctor, a midwife or a family planning centre.
There are two methods of abortion. Surgical abortion (by aspiration), which must be performed in a health establishment (hospital or clinic) or in an authorized health center, can be carried out until the end of the 14th week of pregnancy (and this, since last march – before it was up to the 12th week). The operation consists of an aspiration of the egg (embryo or foetus), preceded by dilation of the cervix. Performed under local or general anesthesia, the procedure only lasts about ten minutes, but then requires a few hours of hospitalization.
Medical abortion (by absorption of a drug, since 1989) can be performed until the end of the 7th week of pregnancy. Carried out in a health facility or at home, it consists of taking two drugs prescribed and delivered by health professionals: the first is used to terminate the pregnancy, the second, taken between 36 and 48 hours after the first, to cause the expulsion of the egg. Note that, in the context of a teleconsultation, the drugs are prescribed by the doctor but delivered by the pharmacy of your choice.
A free operation
Abortion is, in almost all cases, 100% covered by Social Security, no advance payment is required. Be aware that a surgical abortion costs between 463.25 and 664.05 euros, depending on the health establishment, the type of anesthesia and the length of hospitalization, and that a medical abortion costs between 187.92 and 282.91 euros, depending on whether you practice it in a hospital and clinic or in city medicine (office, health center, family planning, etc.).
And after ?
A control visit, intended to ensure that there are no complications, must take place between the 14th and 21st day after the operation. The doctor or the midwife will check that you have a contraceptive method adapted to your situation, and will systematically suggest that you have recourse to a psycho-social consultation, if you wish.
Where to get information?
There are several dedicated structures: family planning centres, regional information offices on contraception and abortion, health centres, or even information, consultation and family counseling establishments.
Beware of misleading information sites! This is particularly the case of the platform www.ivg.net, which presents itself as a “national anonymous and free listening center” (even with a toll-free number) and a “medical documentation center on abortion”but only offers negative testimonials on abortion or studies on “psychological disorders” related to it.
A right that depends only on a law
As a reminder, the offense of obstruction of abortionwhich consists of preventing (or attempting to prevent) an abortion by disrupting access to establishments or by threatening the staff or the women concerned, is punishable by 2 years’ imprisonment and a fine of €30,000.
Such an offense could be called into question if ever, one day, a majority of anti-abortion deputies, such as those of the RN, decided to reconsider the Veil law… A risk that could be avoided by constitutionalizing the right to abortion. abortion, as recently proposed by the presidential camp and, before it, the left opposition in 2018. For the time being, no country in the world has sanctuarized recourse to abortion in this way, but the idea is gaining ground. Evidenced by Chile which, although long ultra-conservative on the issue, has engraved the right to abortion in its new Basic Law which will be put to a referendum on 4 September.
