Featured image of post Polish state has ‘blood on its hands’ after death of woman refused an abortion

Polish state has ‘blood on its hands’ after death of woman refused an abortion

Family says young mother’s health deteriorated rapidly after the twins she was carrying died a week apart in the womb

· 3556 points

Family says young mother’s health deteriorated rapidly after the twins she was carrying died a week apart in the womb

Summary

  • The family of a Polish woman who died on Tuesday after doctors refused to perform an abortion when the foetus’s heart stopped beating have accused the government of having “blood on their hands”.
  • Her death comes a year after Poland introduced one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe.
  • The first foetus died in the womb on 23 December, but doctors refused to remove it, quoting the current abortion legislation, and Agnieszka’s family claim “her state quickly deteriorated”.
  • Her family claim the 30-year-old was denied an abortion or caesarean section and that the hospital cited the country’s abortion laws.
  • Agnieszka’s family claim that contact with the hospital was very poor and that the hospital refused to share the results of Agnieszka’s medical tests citing confidentiality guidelines.