The Polish government has announced new guidelines aimed at facilitating safe access to abortion, reaffirming the legality of the highly divisive procedure in the country. Under the current law, abortions for health reasons are permitted, but the previous conservative government limited some qualifying circumstances. This led to mass protests and doctors’ reluctance to perform abortions for fear of prosecution.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government promised to liberalize the law to allow abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, but the proposal did not gather enough support in parliament. The new guidelines state that a recommendation by one specialist doctor is enough for a woman to obtain a legal abortion in a hospital without the performing doctor facing prosecution.
Previously, abortion in Poland was only allowed in cases of rape, incest, or extreme danger to the pregnant woman’s health. The strict regulations resulted in deaths as doctors were hesitant to perform abortions. The healthcare system will now be required to provide abortion services for women with a medical referral, and hospitals that refuse could face hefty fines.
In 2020, a court controlled by the previous right-wing government abolished a provision allowing the termination of pregnancies due to severe fetal defects, sparking nationwide protests. Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna expressed concern that the majority of doctors and hospitals do not adhere to regulations allowing for early abortion based on one doctor’s opinion. The new guidelines aim to ensure safe access to legal abortion for women in Poland while addressing concerns about medical professionals’ reluctance to provide abortion services.
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