The Effects of an Abortion Ban

As of Oct 2020, Poland’s discredited Constitutional Tribunal claimed that abortions as “severe and irreversible fetal defect or incurable illness that threatens the fetus’ life,” calling them unconstitutional. At the time, Poland already had some of Europe’s most restrictive abortion laws. In Jan 27, 2022, Poland passed a near total ban on abortions. An abortion is only permitted in situations in which the life/health of the mother is threaten of in cases of rape. However, since then women have died from the result of not being able to get an abortion. Many having to travel outside the country in order to get an abortion. However, when Covid-19 hit, many countries were forced into a lock down; abortions were nearly impossible. Women could no longer travel outside the country to receive abortions. Which spurred one of the largest public protests in the country ever. 

Since the ban there have been cases in which women have died from not being able to receive an abortion. In Jan 2022, the family of Agnieszka claimed that the government had ‘blood on their hands’ from the death of their beloved Agnieszka. Agnieszka was denied an abortion. During her first trimester, she was admitted to the Blessed Virgin Mary hospital in Czestochowa on Dec 21, 2021. The family of 37-year-old Agnieszka claimed that she was in pain when she arrived but was fully conscious and in good physical condition. One of the fetuses died on December 23 but the hospital doctors refused to remove it. A week later, the second fetus died; the doctors still refused to remove it. They waited until December 31, 2021, before they finally decided to terminate the pregnancy. Agnieszka died on Jan 25, 2022. After the termination of the pregnancy her body was slowly deteriorating, which took a serious toll on her health.

A similar case had happened last September. A woman by the name Izabella’s water broke her 22nd week of pregnancy. Her family claimed that the hospital refused to perform an abortion or a c-section. The abortion laws set in place had prevented the doctors to do anything about the situation. In the end, Izabella passed away at 30 years old. 

Abortions have always been a sensitive topic for many, often leading to many arguments and disagreements. People who are Pro-life believe that abortions are killing off babies. They claim that women who choose to have an abortion are murderers. However, on the other side, Pro-choice advocates claim that women should have the option of whether they want to have an abortion or not. Abortions are not an easy topic to discuss. However, in order to actually get anywhere these conversations must be had.