Doctors jailed over death of pregnant woman that sparked mass abortion protests in Poland

Jul 17, 2025
Notes from Poland

Three doctors have been handed prison sentences for their negligence in treating a pregnant woman who died in hospital under their care. Her death in 2021 prompted mass protests against Poland’s near-total abortion ban, which had been introduced earlier that year.

The 30-year-old woman, Izabela, was admitted to hospital in the 22th week of her pregnancy following a premature rupture of membranes. Her foetus, which had severe developmental defects, subsequently died, and then so did Izabela herself soon after due to septic shock.

Continued: https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/07/17/doctors-jailed-over-death-of-pregnant-woman-that-sparked-mass-abortion-protests-in-poland/

Doctors charged over death of pregnant woman in Polish hospital that prompted abortion protests

May 30, 2025
Notes from Poland

Three doctors have been charged over the death of a pregnant woman, named only as Dorota, while she was in hospital under their care. Prosecutors found that “there was a failure to undertake appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, which led to the patient’s death”.

Dorota’s death in 2023 prompted mass protests against Poland’s near-total abortion ban, which activists blamed for the doctors’ decision not to terminate the pregnancy despite it threatening the woman’s life. It also led the then government to take action to ensure pregnant women receive appropriate medical care.

Continued: https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/05/30/doctors-charged-over-death-of-pregnant-woman-in-polish-hospital-that-prompted-abortion-protests/

30.05.2025

News

Dorota death

Izabela death

John Paul II Hospital

“Undress, Squat, Cough” — Police In Poland Ramp Up The Abortion Crackdown

Poland, known for having some of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws, only allows the procedure in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. But even when abortions are performed legally, women can be met with criminal accusations from the police.

Dominika Wantuch
July 19, 2023

KRAKOW — Poland's conservative government has made restricting abortion access a guiding pillar since returning to power in 2015. Now that appears to include orders to police to detain women seeking access to terminate a pregnancy in the case of health risks, one of the few exceptions to the strict national abortion ban.

One Polish woman, identified as "Joanna" told police this week that police detained her, saying she had been pressured into having an abortion. She had purchased abortion pills on her own volition after health problems, and had decided to take them, which is not punishable in Poland.

Continued: https://worldcrunch.com/culture-society/poland-abortion-police-crackdown

19.07.2023

News

Abortion Dream Team

Dorota death

European Court of Human Rights

Foundation of Women’s Affairs and Family Planning

Thousands protest in Poland against strict abortion law after pregnant woman died of sepsis

By VANESSA GERA, Associated Press

June 14, 2023

WARSAW, Poland -- Thousands of people demonstrated across Poland on Wednesday against the country's restrictive abortion law after a woman who was five months pregnant died of sepsis, the latest such death since a tightening of the law.

The protesters vented their fury against the governing Law and Justice party, or PiS, and doctors who refuse to perform abortions even when a woman's life is at risk. There have been reported cases of hospitals that refused to terminate pregnancies because of the presence of a fetal heartbeat even when the women were in grave danger.

Continued: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/abortion-rights-protests-planned-poland-after-death-pregnant-100063909

Poland to issue more detailed abortion guidelines after another pregnant woman dies

The 33-year-old from Poland, which has some of the strictest abortion rules, died of sepsis after the hospital waited for the foetus to die.

By Lauren Chadwick
12/06/2023

Polish health authorities have appointed a team to issue more detailed pregnancy termination guidelines for medical facilities after a pregnant woman died last month.

Authorities said on Monday that a 33-year-old woman, Dorota, had her rights violated after she died of sepsis in a hospital.

Continued: https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/06/12/poland-to-issue-more-detailed-abortion-guidelines-after-another-pregnant-woman-dies

12.06.2023

International Planned Parenthood Federation

Polish prosecutors and ombudsman investigate death of pregnant woman in hospital

The Canadian Press
Wed, June 7, 2023

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Prosecutors and the patients’ ombudsman in Poland are investigating the death of a pregnant woman at a hospital, amid the family’s accusations that the doctors kept them in the dark as to the danger and didn't take proper steps to save her.

The death last month of the 33-year-old woman was the second such case reported in southern Poland since September and raised questions whether doctors were afraid to perform abortions to save women with complicated pregnancies.

Continued: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/polish-prosecutors-ombudsman-investigate-death-172233152.html

07.06.2023