Guest of France Bleu Normandie this Tuesday, June 28, Patrick Fournet, gynecologist-obstetrician in Mont-Saint-Aignan, returned to the serious calling into question the right to abortion in the United States, as well as on the bill to include this right to abortion in the French Constitution.
Is attacking abortion an attack on women’s rights?
It is a violation of women’s rights. This is a fear that we may have that this right will be challenged. We must remain vigilant. Many countries are questioning this access to abortion, a large country like the United States is questioning this access. We have a law in France which has been blocked, permanent since 1975 thanks to Simone Veil. Let’s stay vigilantlet us give ourselves the means to ensure that these women’s rights are respected.
Today, what is the situation in France for a woman who wishes to have an abortion?
It is sometimes, and I would not always say, an obstacle course. To have access to a doctor who agrees to take care of it, access to an ultrasound performed in good conditions, access to a medical abortion. We need to organize ourselves in such a way that this access to abortion is facilitated.
The right to abortion still has many detractors today. However, if we have to remember it, is it not a medical act of comfort?
It is not a medical act of comfort, but it is a medical act to which the women can have recourse. Sometimes the need to request this access to abortion because the conditions for setting up this pregnancy are difficult, because access to contraception was difficult or was a failure. And they are faced with an unwanted pregnancy that will have to be taken care of. There are reservations, there are oppositions. Let’s be vigilant. This right of women must be respected and it’s a fight that you have to fight every dayin any case every day, with all the caregivers who want to take care of these patients in a benevolent way.
Is it a good thing in your opinion to include this right to abortion in the Constitution?
Include this right in the Constitution, that’s good, it provides additional security. But giving the means to perform abortions and facilitating women’s access to abortion is even better. Let us think of all the under-resourced areas in our region, the Pays de Caux, the Pays de Bray in the Eure, where access to a doctor, access to an ultrasound, access to a service that could take care of these women is still difficult.
What should be done so that the right to abortion is never questioned in France?
Train motivated doctors, train midwives to care for these women, provide resources to the public hospital, provide means on the pricing of this act, provide the means for a benevolent care of these patients. Listen to all malfunctions and find solutions. The first access can be done in the doctor’s office, but should be able to be done, in the future, by teleconsultation. And it’s really a daily battle that all abortion professionals, who are motivated to take care of these women, must lead. Let’s fight so that access to abortion is always facilitated.