Overview

As of August 2014, in an effort to increase gender equality in the country, abortion in France became legal during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy at the mere request of a woman. Previously, a woman needed to have a medical reason for getting an abortion. Abortions at later stages of pregnancy are legally allowed if two physicians certify that the abortion will be done to prevent “grave permanent injury” to the physical or mental health of the woman and/or child. It is customary in France to schedule abortions one week after demanded by the patient. Moreover, France was the first country to legalize the use of RU-486 in 1988 and some estimate that a quarter of all French abortions use this drug today. Data from 2009 suggests that the abortion rate in France is 17.4 abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44 years old. Several laws and decrees establish regulations of ART in France. One such law is the Bioethics Law of 2004, which strongly advocates values of respect for the dignity of a human embryo, respect for all stages of life, and respect for human rights. The Law also gives the French Biomedicine Agency the regulatory responsibility for IVF and other forms of ART, along with abortion and stem cell research. French regulations place restrictions on those who can have access to IVF, limiting its use to married, heterosexual couples who have lived together for at least two years. However, as of September 2014, France’s top civil court, the Court of Cassation, rules that children conceived from IVF can be adopted by same-sex couples. Furthermore, under the Bioethics Law of 2004, embryo and oocyte cryopreservation is legal. Euthanasia in France is an on-going and developing issue. In March 2015, France passed legislation giving doctors new abilities to place terminally-ill patients in a “deep sleep” until they die. Although some do not completely categorize the legislation as a form of euthanasia, many agree it is a step towards euthanasia legalization. Surveys show that 8 out of 10 French citizens are in favor of allowing euthanasia. On the other hand, France has a strong presence of conservative Catholic who fear this new law and are against euthanasia in general. President Francois Hollande is committed to have the terminally-ill afflicted by “unbearable” pain “to benefit from medical assistance to end their lives with dignity.” With his political agenda, and many citizens in favor of euthanasia, more laws regarding end-of-life may be created in France in the near future. The aforementioned Bioethics Law of 2004 also contains regulation for research on embryos in the country. The Law prohibits the creation of embryos for research purposes. However, research can be conducted in three different situation, all of which involve the embryo having been created in IVF. First, research can be conducted on “spare” embryos no longer being used by the parents, granted the parents provide written consent. Second, research can be done on embryos that are unsuitable for implantation. Third, research can be done on embryos unsuitable for storage or carry an abnormality that was detected by a pre-implantation diagnosis. Further, while clinical research resulting in germline alterations is forbidden by European law, clinical research involving edited embryos is not explicitly forbidden.
Aabortion

Abortion

79 pts out of 100 / 90,00% complete

79 pts

Abortion and contraception allow women to express their freedom of reproduction by exercising their right of self-determination over their bodies.


Measurement questions

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's life?

Yes

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's physical health?

Yes

Is abortion lawful to protect woman's mental health?

Yes

Is abortion lawful in the event the woman was raped?

Yes

Is abortion lawful in the event of fetal defects?

Yes

Does the law mandate that an abortion is performed at the mere request of a pregnant woman?

Legal during 1st trimester only

Is RU-486 (Mifepristone) approved or registered for use?

Yes and it is available with prescription

Are emergency contraception drugs lawfully available?

Yes, from a pharmacist without requiring a prescription

Are family planning services provided through government-run programs and facilities?

Yes, indirectly

Is spousal notification/permission required?

Assisted reproduction

Assisted Reproduction

71 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

71 pts

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are the methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. Access to assisted reproduction concerns our ability to expand our right to health by offering us access to treatment to overcome infertility.


Measurement questions

Is preimplantation genetic diagnosis permissible?

Yes with no restrictions

Is oocyte cryopreservation permissible?

Yes

Is embryo cryopreservation permissible for reproductive purposes?

Yes

Is sperm donation permissible?

Yes

Is oocyte donation permissible?

Yes

Are IVF surrogacy agreements enforceable?

No

Marital status requirements?

Stable relationship at minimum

Do same-sex couples have access to ART?

No

Do single women have access to ART?

No

Are there any limits on the number of pre-embryos that can be transferred?

No

End Off Life

End of life

60 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

60 pts

End of life decisions concern our ability to make choices concerning the end of our lives and take of the form of refusal of life sustaining treatment, being help in committing suicide, choosing euthanasia, and make choices that must be upheld even when the person becomes unconscious. As Young (2010) noted, "People have an interest in making important decisions about their lives in accordance with their own conception of how they want their lives to go."


Measurement questions

Is passive euthanasia lawful?

Yes

Is active euthanasia lawful?

Legally prohibited

Is physician-assisted suicide lawful?

Legally prohibited

Are advance directives (AD) enforceable?

Yes

Is a physician required to respect a patient's refusal of life-sustaining treatment?

Yes

Research With Embryo

Research with embryos

46 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

46 pts

Research with embryos and pre-embryos as well as therapeutic cloning concerns scientists’ freedom to investigate human biology as well as patients’ freedom to access regenerative medicine treatments that may be developed as a result of research with human embryonic stem cells. Since the early 2000s, research with embryos has been at the center of an often-polarized debate about the nature and scope of scientific freedom.


Measurement questions

Is basic research using germline modification in human embryos/gametes permitted?

Only permitted on supernumerary embryos

Is pre-clinical research using germline modification technologies in animals permitted?

Yes

Is clinical research using germline modification technologies in humans permitted?

Restricted

Are clinical applications of research using germline modification technologies (i.e., to initiate a pregnancy with edited embryos or with edited gametes) permitted?

No

GM Crops

GM Crops

50 pts out of 100 / 100,00% complete

50 pts

GM crops have contributed significantly to modern agriculture. Plant breeding using genetic modification techniques has led to improving crops in more targeted ways than classical breeding techniques. GM crops acquire desirable characteristics, including pest and herbicide resistance, enhanced robustness against diseases, drought or water tolerance, and healthier profiles that can enhance nutrition.


Measurement questions

Is research on GMOs permitted in the laboratories?

Yes

Is notification to start research on GMOs in laboratories required?

Yes

Is research on GMOs frequent?

No

Are GM crop field trials (the limited release into the environment for research purposes) permitted?

Yes

Is authorization to start a GM crop field trial required?

Yes/prohibited

Are GM crop field trials frequent?

No/prohibited

Is cultivation of GM crops (for commercial purposes) in open field permitted?

No

Is authorization to start open field cultivation of GM crops required?

Yes/prohibited

Is open field cultivation of GM crops frequent?

No/prohibited

Can GM crop commodities harvested in other countries be imported?

Yes

Is authorization to import GM crop commodities required?

Yes/prohibited

Is the import of GM crop commoties frequent?

Yes

Right To Science Indicators

Right To Science Indicators


Measurement questions

- Access to benefits

What is the total general government expenditure on education?

What is the expenditure on tertiary as % of government expenditure on education?

22.6

What is the the percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed a doctoral degree or equivalent?

0.76

What is the percentage of population that uses the Internet?

85.62

What is the quality of math and science education on a scale from 1 to 7 being "excellent"?

5.1

To what extent is the Internet used in schools for learning purposes?

4.8

What is the scientific literacy of 15-year-old students as measured by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)(mean score)?

495

- Opportunities to participate

Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in hiring?

Yes

What is the percentage of females employed with advanced degrees out of total employed?

62.1

- Enabling environment

How many scientific and technical journal articles are published each year in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences?

69430.8

What is the percentage of GDP allocated to Research and Development?

2.23

How may published articles have received at least H citations in the period 1996–2014?

79.3

What is the quality of scientific research institutions?

5.8

To what extent do business and universities collaborate on research and development (R&D)?

4.2

What is the average university ranking score of countries based on their top 3 universities?

71.4

To what extent are scientists and engineers available?

4.6

How many professionals are employed as researchers?

10.1

How many professionals are employed by government as researchers?

10.2

- International cooperation

To what extent are talented people attracted from abroad?

3.4

Recent News about France

French Lawmakers Approve Terminal Sedation, Not Euthanasia

France’s Parliament has approved a bill that will let doctors keep terminally ill patients sedated until death comes but stops short of legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide. After years of tense debate over the issue and a long journey through Parliament, the bill was passed by the country’s lower house and Senate Wednesday. The text

Euthanasia row over decision to end life support for French quadraplegic Vincent Lambert

A row has broken out over the controversial question of who should take responsibility for a comatose man after doctors refused to decide on ending life support, saying they feared for their safety. According to the parents of Vincent Lambert, 38, left a quadriplegic with severe brain damage after a 2008 motorbike accident. his doctors

Human Rights Court Allows Ending Treatment of Comatose Man

PARIS — Europe’s top human rights court has allowed doctors to stop treatment of a French man left comatose after a car accident seven years ago, a case that has drawn nationwide attention amid debate about end-of-life practices. The European Court of Human Rights on Friday confirmed a decision by a French court last year

France Eases Abortion Restrictions in Sweeping Equality Law

By: Alexandra Stifferlin Called “historic” step in gender equality push France passed legislationthis week allowing women to get abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy with no questions asked, lifting previous restrictions as part of a sweeping and historic law meant to increase gender equality in the country. Previously, a French woman could only get

France passes new end-of-life legislation to alleviate suffering.

France passed legislation on Tuesday giving doctors new powers to place terminally-ill patients in a “deep sleep” until they die, sparking controversy over whether euthanasia should be fully legalised. Eight out of 10 French people are in favour of allowing euthanasia and almost all – 96 per cent – back the “deep sleep” law, polls

French same-sex couples allowed to adopt children conceived via IVF

By James Brooks  France’s top civil court, the Court of Cassation, has ruled that children conceived via assisted reproduction overseas can be adopted by same-sex parents. Following a law change in 2013, homosexual couples in France are allowed to adopt but remain barred from using IVF. A few French courts had thus refused adoption rights to

French parliament prepares new end-of-life legislation

Henry Samuel —    Doctors in France will have the right to put terminally-ill patients into a deep sleep until they die, under plans unveiled on Friday that reignited a national debate on euthanasia. Apart from Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, few countries in the world explicitly permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. In France, a 2005 law