The conscience clause allows gynaecologists to refuse to practice abortions

“The things I no longer believe in, I no longer do”. Bertrand de Rochambeau, president of the National Union of Gynecologists-Obstetricians, was interviewed by a journalist of the programme “Quotidien” on TMC, on Tuesday 11 September. He explained that he now refused to carry out abortions.
 
“I practice my profession with my guts. I get up at any hour of the day or night. At night, I do very difficult operations, with my guts. And so, the things I no longer believe in, I no longer do”, he explained to journalist Valentine Oberti. “We are not here to take lives”, he added. 

The journalist answered that “an abortion is not a homicide”. “Yes, it is”, replied the gynaecologist. Valentine Oberti reminded that an abortion was not considered as an homicide in the Crimincal Code. “This is your opinion. As a doctor, I am not obliged to share your opinion. And if I don’t, the law protects me, and so does my conscience.”, replied the doctor. 

On Twitter, the co-president of Family Planning called this declaration of Dr de Rochambeau as “scandalous”, and stated that “the conscience clause is an obstacle to women’s rights and to their health”. 

News bulletin (Orange/AFP) published on 12 September 2018 at 10.10am