In a case which rocked the Polish media earlier this month, an intellectually disabled 14-year-old girl who became pregnant as a result of being raped by her uncle was refused a termination.
In 2021, the Polish government introduced a controversial, near-total ban on abortion. The only circumstances under which the termination is legal are rape, incest and pregnancy being a threat to the mother’s health or life.
But when the teenage rape victim attempted to get an abortion at local hospitals, she found that the medical professionals there refused to help the girl and claimed the religious conscience clause. It was only with the help of an NGO that the girl was transported to Warsaw to carry out the procedure.
“We are absolutely appalled by this situation. Here, our response is unambiguous. We in close cooperation with the Ombudsman for Patients' Rights … Such behavior is unacceptable”, Polish health minister Adam Niedzielski said at a press conference Monday.
(jh)
Source: PAP