Doctors face ruling over abortion death

A POLISH court is to rule this week on an appeal of three doctors over the 2021 death of a pregnant woman, in a case that sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of the country’s restrictive abortion laws.

- 

POLAND'S President Karol Nawrocki.

(AFP)

The woman, Izabela, whose last name has not been made public, died of sepsis in 2021 while experiencing complications in the 22nd week of pregnancy.

Her death came a year after a law toughening abortion restrictions in the mainly Catholic country came into effect and reignited protests that shook the EU member.

Abortion in Poland is legal only in two circumstances: when the pregnancy resulted from a criminal act - such as rape or incest - or if it threatens the mother’s life or health.

Several pregnant women have died in Polish hospitals in recent years, in many cases after doctors refused to carry out abortions.

Izabela, 30, was at a hospital in Pszczyna, in southern Poland, after her amniotic fluid broke.