"The 37-year-old woman identified only as Agnieszka T. is the latest pregnant woman to die in Poland just one year after the country passed some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. Women's human rights groups and her family blame the strict law, alleging doctors refused to carry out an abortion right away following the death of the fetus, a decision that they say cost Agnieszka her life, the Associated Press reported.
Agnieszka was pregnant with twins during her first trimester when she was admitted to the Blessed Virgin Mary Hospital in Częstochowa on December 21, 2021, with abdominal pain and vomiting, the AP said.
According to her family, she arrived at the hospital in "good physical and mental shape," according to The Guardian. After two days in the hospital, one of the heartbeats of the twins stopped.
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According to her family, she arrived at the hospital in "good physical and mental shape," according to The Guardian. After two days in the hospital, one of the heartbeats of the twins stopped.
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Following the terminated pregnancy, the woman remained in the hospital for weeks with deteriorating health. She ultimately died on January 25 from what her family suspects was septic shock. The Guardian reported that the cause of death was not released in a statement by the hospital on Wednesday."
Read more: Newsweek Article ; Information regarding 2020 abortion laws in Poland ; The Guardian article, on the topic
The autopsy has not been publicized regarding this woman's death, so discussion surrounding it is potentially speculation. There is a precedent however, as this is the third death (that I, a foreigner, knows of) that has resulted from the stringent abortion laws of Poland. These laws state abortion is only permitted in cases of sexual assault resulting in pregnancy or risk of fatality on the part of the mother, if pregnancy continues. The latter is left to the discretion of the doctors, and it's simple to point fingers at the doctors who make the wrong call in the situation. While malpractice or moral standing of the doctor may influence the wrong call (terminating a pregnancy to save the mother's life is inarguably the right call, as no government openly refuses this caveat), it may potentially also be caused by the fear of defending oneself against the strict abortion laws. These laws incentivize not aborting a fetus, which may result in waiting until it's too late to terminate for the mother's safety, as has been shown repeatedly in Poland. How long are we going to ignore a woman's autonomy, sometimes at risk of her mental or physical health? And how long are we going to selectively place greater value on the potentiality of life than on the actuality of it, and it's quality?
Read more: Newsweek Article ; Information regarding 2020 abortion laws in Poland ; The Guardian article, on the topic
The autopsy has not been publicized regarding this woman's death, so discussion surrounding it is potentially speculation. There is a precedent however, as this is the third death (that I, a foreigner, knows of) that has resulted from the stringent abortion laws of Poland. These laws state abortion is only permitted in cases of sexual assault resulting in pregnancy or risk of fatality on the part of the mother, if pregnancy continues. The latter is left to the discretion of the doctors, and it's simple to point fingers at the doctors who make the wrong call in the situation. While malpractice or moral standing of the doctor may influence the wrong call (terminating a pregnancy to save the mother's life is inarguably the right call, as no government openly refuses this caveat), it may potentially also be caused by the fear of defending oneself against the strict abortion laws. These laws incentivize not aborting a fetus, which may result in waiting until it's too late to terminate for the mother's safety, as has been shown repeatedly in Poland. How long are we going to ignore a woman's autonomy, sometimes at risk of her mental or physical health? And how long are we going to selectively place greater value on the potentiality of life than on the actuality of it, and it's quality?
It could happen here.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad warning about the dangers of extremist legislation.
ReplyDelete