Jacqueline Felice de Almania facts for kids

Jacqueline Felice de Almania (also known as Jacobina Felice) was a woman from Florence, Italy, who lived in the early 1300s. She worked as a doctor in Paris, France. In 1322, she faced a trial because she was practicing medicine without a special license.

Jacqueline Felice's Medical Work

Jacqueline Felice de Almania was known as a skilled health expert. She treated both men and women for various health problems. People often sought her help when other doctors couldn't cure them. She was especially known for successfully treating conditions like fevers and paralysis.

She believed that women should care for other women's health issues, especially private ones. This was to keep these matters private from men.

Jacqueline Felice did not go to a university to study medicine. This made some licensed doctors upset. Even without formal training, she used methods similar to theirs. She would visit sick people, examine them, and suggest treatments. She also had a special rule: she only charged patients if her treatments actually made them better.

The Trial of Jacqueline Felice

In 1322, Jacqueline Felice was put on trial. The Medical Faculty of Paris accused her of practicing medicine without a license. This was the only reason for the trial.

During the trial, eight people spoke as witnesses. Seven of them were her patients. They all spoke about her excellent medical skills. One witness even said she was a better doctor and surgeon than any of the male doctors in Paris. It seems her success and her policy of not charging unless cured made some male doctors angry.

The Verdict and Its Impact

In the end, Jacqueline Felice de Almania was found guilty. She was told she would be excommunicated (removed from the church) if she ever practiced medicine again. She was also banned from being a doctor and had to pay a large fine.

The court's main reason for finding her guilty was her lack of university training. They did not even test her medical knowledge. Despite many people saying she cured them when male doctors had failed, the court decided that men could naturally understand medicine better than women. This decision was very important. It meant that women in France were largely prevented from studying medicine at universities and getting licenses until the 1800s.

See also

In Spanish: Jacqueline Felice de Almania para niños