In response to the recent death of a 33-year-old woman, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has emphasized that women have the right to undergo an abortion if their life or health is at risk.
Under the current legislation, women are allowed to have an abortion if their health or life is endangered.
Prime Minister Morawiecki countered these concerns by asserting that Polish law is explicit about allowing abortions under appropriate circumstances. While acknowledging that abortion is a difficult decision, he emphasized that it becomes a necessity in certain cases. He stated, “Abortion is allowed in all cases where there is any threat to a woman’s life or health. It must be saved. A woman’s life and health are the most important.”
Addressing doctors who may feel uncertain about performing abortions, Morawiecki urged them not to hide behind the lack of guidelines or harbour any fears. He reassured medical professionals that Polish law clearly permits abortion when a woman’s life or health is at risk.
The prime minister expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased woman from Nowy Targ, describing the situation as “extremely sad” and assuring that the circumstances surrounding her death are being investigated.
Taking a step towards providing clearer guidance, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced the formation of a team tasked with developing abortion guidelines for medical institutions on Monday. This move aims to address the concerns raised by doctors and facilitate the provision of safe and legal abortions when necessary.