Last month, a case surrounding a woman who tragically died of sepsis in the fifth month of her pregnancy brought attention to the controversial tightening of Poland’s already restrictive abortion laws. Dorota Lalik, a 33-year-old woman, passed away in the John Paul II hospital in Nowy Targ, a conservative region of southern Poland. This incident has caused uproar and sparked national debates around the rights of pregnant women in the country. This tragic event follows the controversial tightening of Poland’s already restrictive abortion law more than two years ago, which led to mass protests across the country.
Violation of Patient Rights
On Monday, Polish health authorities confirmed a violation of patient rights in Lalik’s case. Bartlomiej Chmielowiec, the ombudsman for patient rights, said that the John Paul II hospital violated Lalik’s rights by withholding the information that her life could be saved through an abortion. In response, Poland’s health minister, Adam Niedzielski, has stressed that every woman whose life or health is threatened by her pregnancy has the right to an abortion.
Response from Health Authorities
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski has announced the appointment of a team to examine the country’s guidelines on the termination of pregnancy. The team will include women, and the aim is to issue more detailed standards for obstetricians.
Legal Perspective and Women’s Rights Advocacy
Legal experts and women’s rights advocates have warned that doctors are putting women’s lives at risk as they prioritize saving pregnancies over women, either for ideological reasons or fearing legal consequences for themselves. According to Jolanta Budzowska, the lawyer representing the families of Lalik and Izabela (another woman who died under similar circumstances), doctors’ fear of legal repercussions has had a “freezing effect” on their decision-making. Marta Lempart, the founder of the All-Poland Women’s Strike, argues that the restrictive anti-abortion legislation in Poland and the doctors’ stringent interpretation of the law places all pregnant women in danger. For more information on the All-Poland Women’s Strike and their cause, visit their website here.
Polish Hospitals: A Fear for Pregnant Women
Lempart, addressing the situation, stated, “All pregnant women are in danger the moment they’re referred to a Polish hospital. We are afraid of all doctors because we don’t know which ones will act to prevent their patient’s death.” She further added, “This is another hospital death caused by the decision of doctors to deny access to legal abortion. We again saw the doctors lie and deceive the family and wait passively as the patient died of sepsis.” Despite the current law permitting abortion when the life or health of the woman is threatened, Lempart argues that “doctors deny access to abortions that are legal. Their interpretation of the law is stricter than the government’s.” She emphasized that it’s challenging to solely blame the government when doctors are refusing to perform abortions permitted by the law, even when the life of the woman is at risk.
Looking Ahead
In light of recent events, the healthcare community and policymakers in Poland face pressing questions about the balance between the rights of the unborn, the rights of pregnant women, and the professional responsibilities of medical practitioners. Lempart, echoing the sentiments of protestors across the country, said: “This is why we are protesting. We want to raise the alarm: if you are pregnant, this could happen to you if you’re not prepared to fight for your life.”
