The Polish government has announced new guidelines to facilitate safe access to abortion, affirming the legality of the highly divisive procedure. Under the current law, abortions for health reasons are permitted, but the previous conservative government limited other qualifying circumstances, leading to mass street protests and reluctance among doctors to perform abortions. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government promised to liberalize the law to allow abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, but the proposal narrowly failed to gather enough support in parliament. The Health Ministry’s new guidelines state that a recommendation from one specialist doctor is sufficient for a woman to obtain a legal abortion in a hospital without fear of prosecution for the doctor performing the procedure.
Previously, abortion in Poland was only allowed in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or in situations where there was extreme danger to a pregnant woman’s health. The strict regulations led to a number of deaths as doctors refused to perform abortions due to fear of imprisonment. While doctors or individuals assisting in procuring an abortion could face up to three years in prison, the woman seeking the procedure would not be prosecuted. Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna noted that many doctors and hospitals do not adhere to regulations allowing early abortion based on one doctor’s opinion and often seek further opinions, causing delays that could endanger a woman’s health. She emphasized that hospitals must provide abortion services for women with medical referrals or face substantial fines or loss of their National Health Fund contract.
In 2020, a court under the previous right-wing government abolished a provision allowing for the termination of pregnancy in cases of grave, irreparable defects of the fetus, sparking nationwide protests. The decision further restricted access to abortion and exemplified the ongoing debate surrounding reproductive rights in Poland. The current government’s efforts to liberalize abortion laws signal a shift towards expanding women’s access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare. Despite the challenges and opposition faced, the government is committed to finding ways to ensure that women have the right to choose to have an abortion if necessary, within the confines of the law and medical guidelines. The guidelines published by the Health Ministry aim to streamline the abortion process, eliminate unnecessary barriers, and protect doctors from prosecution while providing essential reproductive healthcare services to pregnant women.
The issue of abortion in Poland has long been a contentious and highly debated topic, with strong opinions on both sides. The recent measures taken by the government to facilitate safe access to abortion reflect a more progressive approach to reproductive rights and women’s health. The guidelines set forth by the Health Ministry provide clear criteria for obtaining legal abortion, ensuring that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive health. The government’s commitment to addressing the shortcomings and restrictions in the previous abortion laws highlights a step towards ensuring that women in Poland have access to essential healthcare services and the ability to make informed choices about their pregnancies. Despite ongoing challenges and opposition, the government’s efforts to expand access to abortion represent a significant advancement in the realm of reproductive rights in the country.
