“A decree published in Official newspaper On 17 December 2023 it expands the skills of midwives. Now they can carry out voluntary instrumental termination of pregnancy (abortion) in a health facility without the intervention of a doctor. »
If we stick to the information available on the official website of the French administration, the extension of the practice of voluntary termination of instrumental pregnancy to midwives seems like good news. Long requested by the profession, the practice of instrumental abortion would allow women to benefit from a safe abortion, in the operating room, for up to 16 weeks of amenorrhea. Or 14 weeks pregnant, which would greatly reduce access difficulties.
But for feminist and caregiver associations this progress is not actually such. At issue: the methods of application of this decree, which make its implementation almost impossible.
“Extremely restrictive conditions”
In a press release issued on Wednesday 20 December, the Order of Midwives regrets that the decree published in the Official Journal is “below the expectations of our profession and women’s rights advocates”.
In question: the first article of the implementing decree, which provides “on site and within times compatible with health safety needs” the presence of four doctors capable of intervening in the event of a complication. That is, a gynecologist-obstetrician and an anesthesiologist-resuscitator, as well as a doctor capable of intervening in the event of“arterial embolization”severe uterine hemorrhage.
“Unfortunately, this text will significantly limit the participation of midwives in instrumental abortion as it requires the presence of 3 doctors on site but also of a doctor capable of carrying out arterial embolizations, on site or in agreement with another healthcare facility.
These conditions, however, are not required when doctors perform instrumental abortions or during childbirth, where the risk of bleeding is much higher. »
Order of midwives
According to the Ordinance, this first article of the decree is not alone “a tacit questioning of the ability of midwives to carry out this gesture”but it will also in fact to limit “the number of facilities in which midwives will be able to exercise this competence, thus emptying this measure of its meaning”.
Further mistreatment for the midwife profession
The Order of Midwives is not alone in sharing this opinion. Asked by The worldPhilippe Deruelle, general secretary of the National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, believes so“Expanding the skills of midwives and then requiring checks of this type has no medical or scientific basis. Furthermore, imposing it, targeting the areas where there is a shortage of doctors, means running the risk of putting the orthogenic centers in difficulty”.
“Putting so many conditions means mistreating the midwife profession. As if they had to demonstrate additional skills”declared Sarah Durocher, president of Family Planning, also quoted by The world.
When questioned about it, the Ministry of Health defended the decree, arguing “Essential safety imperative in the event of an accident requiring rapid surgical intervention”.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
