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Warsaw: Difference between revisions
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→Abortion
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Poland, abortion is generally illegal. It is only permitted in certain circumstances, which include the following: when the woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy, when the pregnancy was caused by a criminal act (such as rape or incest), or when doctors determine that there is serious risk of fetus malformation. The pregnant woman must give written consent if she is a legal adult and able to give such consent. In other cases, a guardian must give legal consent. For all women, abortion is not available. This means that other general reasons for abortion, like economic/social reasons or availability upon request, are not permitted. For a brief time, Polish law allowed women to receive abortions due to their social or economic conditions, but this was later repealed. According to the Law on Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Permissibility of Abortion Act (written in 1993 and 1997), "The right to life shall be subject to protection, including in the prenatal phase." Furthermore, "Upon being born, the child may demand redress for damages suffered before birth."<ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws: Poland]</ref> | |||
If a woman illegally receives an abortion in Poland, she will be not be punished by the law. However, the physician or health care worker who provides the abortion may face up to 2 years of imprisonment. If someone terminates the pregnancy through "use of violence" or without the consent of the woman, that person faces 6 months to 8 years in prison. If anyone commits "bodily injury" to a fetus, that person may be subject to 2 years in prison. If the abortion results in the death of the woman, the heath care worker may receive up to 10 years in prison.<ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws: Poland]</ref> | |||
During the communist years, Poland generally allowed abortion. In the 1950s, it was allowed under certain circumstances and, by the 1960s, abortion was available on request. This lead to some women in other European countries, like Sweden, traveling to Poland to receive abortions. However, with the fall of communism, Poland began to adopt more conservative policies toward abortion. In the 1990s, the government enacted newly severe abortion laws, making the country one of the most restrictive (in terms of abortion law) in Europe. In late 2016, the Polish government began to pursue further restrictions. In October 2016, the Polish government proposed a new bill that would completely ban abortion. The bill would also punish women with up to 5 year prison sentences if they were found guilty of receiving an illegal abortion.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/02/women-to-go-on-strike-in-poland-abortion-law Women to go on strike in Poland in protest at planned abortion law]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
If a woman receives a legal abortion and she is a recipient of Polish health insurance, her abortion will be covered by the government. | |||
==Advocacy & Counseling== | ==Advocacy & Counseling== | ||