
The inventor of the abortion pill, Étienne-Emile Baulieu, has died. The French scientist passed away at the age of 98 in his home in Paris.
He was a biochemist and endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in hormone disorders and metabolic diseases. However, he became most famous for developing RU 486, the abortion pill. Millions of women worldwide gained access to a cheap and safe alternative to surgical abortion.
Baulieu presented the pill in 1982, and seven years later, it was approved in France. This led to significant criticism from anti-abortion movements and even threats against Baulieu.
Today, the pill is available in over a hundred countries, though many have strict regulations regarding its sale.