Étienne-Émile Baulieu, French Pioneer Behind the Abortion Pill Mifepristone, Dies at 98

For Baulieu, the development of mifepristone was more than a scientific achievement—it was a statement of medical ethics. “My goal,” he once said, “was to give women control over their reproductive health in a way that is safe, non-invasive, and respectful of their privacy.” His vision aligned with broader movements advocating for women’s rights and gender equality, making him a symbolic figure not only in medicine but also in social progress. In 2010, the World Health Organization added mifepristone to its list of essential medicines, further cementing the drug’s importance in global healthcare.