Baulieu died – inventor of drug abortion
His best-known discovery was extremely controversial and has influenced life of several women in the world: Now the inventor of the drug termination, Étienne-Émile Baulieu, has died at the age of 98. This reported the French news agency AFP, referring to the wife of the doctor and researcher.
Baulieu was born in Strasbourg in 1926, as a teenager he was involved in resistance to National Socialism. He later turned to medicine. France’s head of state Emmanuel Macron praised Baulieu as a « spirit of progress that enabled women to gain their freedom ». France also loses a encouragement with him.
« Abortion pill » met with considerable resistance
Baulieu researched steroid hormones and their receptors. This led to the development of the « abortion pill » RU 486. The pill blocks the hormone progesterone necessary for pregnancy, with the help of which the fertilized egg is nesting in the uterus. So the mucous membrane is broken down and the embryo is also emitted with it.
Government does not want to extend abortion deadline
In 1989 the medication in France was approved despite criticism from politics and the church. The preparation caused violent discussions. While supporters see him a secure and cheap alternative to operational abortions, critics scold the invention as a « death pill ».
