Anna Wlodarczak–Semczuk, Kacper Perempel

WARSAW (Reuters – A Polish woman who was pregnant died. This has triggered debate in Europe about abortion. Activists say she might still be around if not for a ban that almost completely prohibits terminating pregnancies.

Tens to thousands of Poles protested on January 1, 2019, when a Constitutional Tribunal ruling that termination of pregnancies with foetal defect was illegal, effective October 2020, saw the end of the most commonly used legal abortion case.

The ruling has led to the death of Izabela, an activist who is a 30-year-old mother in the 22nd weeks of her pregnancy. Her family claimed that she died of septicemia after her doctors stopped her baby’s heart beating while waiting.

According to the government, her death was not caused by the decision but rather an error made by doctors.

Her family stated that Izabela was admitted to the hospital after her waters burst in September. Previously, scans had shown many defects in the foetus.

The baby is 485g. Because of the abortion law, for now I will have to lay down. They can’t do anything. “They’ll wait till it dies, or something starts, and if that happens, I can expect to have sepsis,” Izabela wrote in a text message she sent her mother. Private broadcaster TVN24 also reported.

Doctors at the Pszczyna hospital, in southern Poland decided to do a Caesarean after a scan revealed that the foetus had died. Jolanta Budzowska (the lawyer for the family) stated that Izabela died from complications while she was rushed to the operating room.

Barbara, Izabela’s mother, said that she couldn’t believe the news and thought it was false. How could this happen in the hospital?” She went to the hospital for help.

Budzowska filed legal action against Izabela’s treatment. She accused doctors of negligence, and she called Izabela’s death “a result of that verdict.”

Pszczyna County Hospital shared its grief and condoled with all who were affected by Izabela’s passing.

According to the hospital, “It is important that you emphasize that every medical decision was made keeping in mind the law and the standards of conduct applicable in Poland.”

The hospital announced Friday that it had temporarily suspended the services of two physicians who were present at the time.

According to the Supreme Medical Chamber which represents Polish doctors it said that they were not able immediately to comment.

NO MORE

Budzowska tweeted the news about the case, and the hashtag #anijednejwiecej (or ‘not one’) spread to social media. Protesters demanded a revision of the law.

The ruling Law and Justice party in Poland (PiS), however, denies that Izabela was killed by the Constitutional Tribunal’s decision and instead attributes it to an error made by doctors.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that termination of pregnancy can be done if the mother’s life or health is at risk.

Bartlomiej Wroblewski, a PiS lawmaker, told Reuters that the case shouldn’t be “instrumentalised” and used to limit life or kill any disabled children.

However, activist say that doctors are now afraid to end pregnancies even if the mother is in serious danger.

Urszula Grycuk, Federation for Women and Family Planning said that “Izabela’s case clearly shows how the ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal had a chilling affect on doctors.”

Doctors don’t always recognize the existence of a medical condition, even one that shouldn’t be. This is because doctors are scared.

Ireland’s death in 2012 of Savita Halappanavar, 31, after she refused to terminate her pregnancy was a trigger for a nationwide outpouring grief that many believe led to the liberalization of abortion laws.

Budzowska said to Reuters, that a discussion similar to that in Ireland was being held in Poland.

She said, “Both Izabela and I hope that this case…will lead to a modification in the law here in Poland.”

The Polish president suggested last year that the law be amended to allow abortions in situations where the foetus is not viable. Parliament has not yet debated the bill because of its dominance by Justice and Law.