Dr. Baulieu's legacy includes the creation of the abortion pill RU-486, a medical advancement that transformed access to safe abortions for millions of women worldwide.
French Scientist Étienne-Émile Baulieu, Pioneer of Abortion Pill, Passes Away at 98
French Scientist Étienne-Émile Baulieu, Pioneer of Abortion Pill, Passes Away at 98
Étienne-Émile Baulieu, the French scientist who revolutionized women's reproductive rights, has died at age 98.
The world mourns the loss of Étienne-Émile Baulieu, the visionary French scientist renowned for creating the abortion pill, who passed away at his home in Paris at the age of 98. His work on RU-486, also known as mifepristone, provided a much-needed safe and affordable alternative to surgical abortion for women globally.
His widow, Simone Harari Baulieu, shared that her husband dedicated his research to advancing human welfare and women's freedoms. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Dr. Baulieu as "a beacon of courage" whose contributions significantly shaped women's rights. He commented, "Few French people have changed the world to such an extent."
Born Étienne Blum on December 12, 1926, in Strasbourg, Baulieu changed his name to support the French resistance against Nazi forces as a teenager. He later collaborated with Dr. Gregory Pincus in the United States, who influenced the development of the contraceptive pill and directed Baulieu's focus toward sex hormones. Back in France, he invented a method to inhibit progesterone, a crucial hormone required for egg implantation.
While the abortion pill was perfected within a decade, Baulieu faced significant resistance in getting the drug approved internationally, enduring criticism and even threats from anti-abortion advocates. The World Health Organization recognized it as essential medicine only in 2010.
In a 2023 ceremony, Macron awarded him the Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur, acknowledging the hardships he faced as a Jewish resistance member. Baulieu's commitment to women's freedoms remained unwavering, even amidst legislative bans against the abortion pill in various regions, including Wyoming.
In recent years, Baulieu extended his research to exploring treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and severe depression, demonstrating his lifelong dedication to improving human health and dignity.
