It was in a press release published on October 12, 2020 that the Academy of Medicine said it was opposed to the extension of the legal period of access to abortion.
On Monday, October 12, 2020, the Academy of Medicine published a press release opposing the extension of the legal period for access to abortion. According to her, this could have a strong impact on women's health. In this text, we can read: "By increasing this period to 16 weeks of gestation (i.e. 14 weeks gestation), we increase the need for surgical maneuvers which can be dangerous for women and for a greater dilation of the cervix which may cause long-term complications such as premature delivery. "
This lengthening will inevitably lead to a significant increase in short or long term complications.
According to the Academy of Medicine, we must maintain "the current legal deadline" but make the practice of abortion more accessible in health centers. However, the proposed law aims to extend the legal deadline for resorting to abortion to meet the patients' limited capacity to provide care. Indeed, the lack of practitioners and the gradual closure of certain abortion centers have serious consequences. It can take several weeks between the first appointment and the procedure. As a reminder, according to a parliamentary report, each year, between 3,000 and 4,000 women go abroad to be able to have an abortion.
In addition to the extension of the legal deadline, the Academy of Medicine opposes other measures proposed by the bill. Also according to the press release published on October 12, 2020, she "advises against the transfer of skills to midwives for the practice of surgical abortions, whatever the term, given their current lack of surgical qualification."
On Saturday October 10, 2020, the Order of Physicians also spoke on the bill, opposing in particular the removal of the conscience clause.
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