Is the right to abortion limited during confinement?

Associations and politicians are concerned that access to abortion will be restricted during confinement linked to the coronavirus epidemic. The government is ensuring that this is not the case.

With the limitation of discharges and the saturation of hospitals, is the right to abortion threatened by confinement? This is what associations seem to think. On France Inter, Danielle Gaudry, activist for Family Planning explains that she has already had worrying feedback in Ile-de-France and in Isère: "A certain number of hospitals no longer answer the telephone. Time slots allowing in particular to practice voluntary abortions of surgical pregnancy have also been removed from the operating theaters."

Questioned by Release, Family Planning explains that its fears particularly concern minors: "The law promises them an anonymous and free service, but I find it hard to see how it will be possible when they have to go out to see the doctor and they are confined to family", explains Caroline Rebhi, organization co-chair. It also confirms to have had returns of failures. Patients have seen "blocks canceled, abortions postponed for a few days. In fact, it depends on the regions. Where the service was already failing, it is obviously even worse".

On March 19, Laurence Rossignol, senator and former Minister of Health, raised the question of limiting access to abortion by proposing an amendment to extend the legal deadline by two weeks and to remove the second consultation for the minors. His text was rejected by the government. "The Covid-19 crisis has several consequences for women wishing to have an abortion. First of all for those who find themselves outside the legal time limit (the twelfth week of pregnancy, editor's note): in normal times, they go to Spain or the Countries France knows this very well and that puts us in a hypocritical situation, but how are they going to do now with the closure of the borders? If we don't end with an increase in clandestine abortions, we will be lucky. Then, more generally, all the services are disrupted. There are fewer caregivers because some are sick and others are called on emergencies: this is all the more reason not to welcome women ", she explains to Release.

According to the newspaper, the ministries concerned are indeed beginning to notice disruptions in the dedicated services. With the reassignment of certain health professionals to other positions, appointments are sometimes postponed. According to his information, the Ministry of Health and the Secretariat for Women's Rights have consulted on the subject, and several instructions have been sent to the abortion services. First of all, favor drug abortions when possible, as well as favor teleconsultation for prior appointments so as not to overload hospitals a little more. Midwives can be mobilized for this. Regarding the chosen method, in case of surgical procedure, "when an intervention is necessary, we advise to avoid general anesthesia: the less invasive, the less the risk of contamination", explains Cyril Huissoud, member of the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF ". However, he regrets: "Operations can be postponed, especially if the patient is symptomatic of Covid-19. But if patients find themselves outside the legal deadline due to a delay, their original intention will obviously be taken into account. The CNGOF will ensure that they can be taken care of in accordance with their initial choice ".

Furthermore, abortion was classified in the category of urgent care. "The emergency care centers, including the abortion, remain insured during the crisis. Health protection measures identical to the rest of the health establishments must be taken by the centers having to take care of patients. Procedures and conditions of access remain the same as before the crisis ", ensures Release the Directorate General of Health.

Concerning women who are late, Family Planning can issue them a certificate, allowing in theory to be able to cross borders to be able to abort in a country where the legal deadlines are longer. "But it depends on the police. For example, a woman had to spend the night at the border. The next day another policewoman let her pass. We would like to know if the legalization of medical termination of pregnancy (IMG), not subject to restrictions delay could apply for psychological reasons, especially in this pandemic context. We are still waiting for the answer ", says Caroline Rebhi.

What is medical abortion?


Video by Juliette Le Peillet

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