Under pressure from the Catholic Church in Poland, a law was tightened a year ago that effectively prohibits abortions even if the fetus has birth defects. Two days ago, another woman died due to sepsis caused by doctors’ refusal to abort her on time.
On Saturday, residents of many Polish cities took to the streets against the brutal abortion law. People walked with candles and banners: “No more,” referring to women who could be harmed by the law. The protests are caused by the death of a young mother from sepsis – blood infection.
30-year-old Isabella was pregnant, however, the fetus had violations of development incompatible with life. In such cases, the mother make an abortion for medical reasons. But the doctors delayed the operation – and the woman died.
The thing is that in January 2021, a new ban on abortion came into effect – in case the fetus has birth defects. According to the protesters, the law was written under the dictation of representatives of the Catholic Church, which has a strong influence on the ruling conservative party.
Previously, the country had a general ban on abortion. But a woman could get permission in three cases: if the child was conceived as a result of rape (which she still had to prove); if the life of the mother is in danger and if the fetus has irreparable defects. It was the third point that was canceled at the beginning of this year.
The deceased is mourned by her husband and little daughter. The family was waiting for the second child, but the fruit had congenital vices. In particular, the lack of amniotic fluid. At the 22nd week of pregnancy, Isabella moved away the water, she fell into the hospital. In the correspondence with his relatives, she reported that the doctors took an expectant position, slowly to make an abortion and eliminate the fried fetus.
The family’s lawyer, Yolanta Budzovskaya, said that the doctors were waiting for the death of the fetus, so they were inactive for about a day. As a result, both the child, who was doomed, and the mother, whose life could have been saved by having an abortion on time, died.
Doctors, as stated in the hospital, acted in accordance with the legal norms … “Which limit the possibility of legal abortion,” the lawyer recalled.