Abortion by doctor Gizela Jagielska in an advanced pregnancy caused a storm in Poland. The case divided the public and became the subject of President Andrzej Duda's loud speech for Television Trwam.
Loud abortion in Oleśnica – what happened?
At the hospital in Oleśnica, Dr. Gizela Jagielska performed an abortion in 36 weeks of pregnancy. The patient, Mrs Anita, found out at a late stage about the serious genetic defects of the fetus, which, according to doctors, may have meant great suffering to the child. The doctor referred to a psychiatric condition, arguing that the decision was in accordance with Polish law and was due to concern for the patient's mental health.
The procedure was to inject an injection into the fetal heart, which resulted in a dead birth. The case went to the prosecutor's office and sparked a wave of protests and intervention of politicians, including Grzegorz Braun, who tried to make civil detention of the doctor.
Social and political echoes – split opinions
The main arguments of the parties
- Doctor’s supportersstress that it has acted in accordance with law and medical recommendations, and similar cases occur throughout Europe.
- Criticsindicate an advanced stage of pregnancy and the moral dimension of decisions. Part of the medical community and pro-life organizations considered the treatment to be crossing ethical and legal boundaries.
Ministry of Health Response
The Ministry of Health initiated control in all institutions that provided services to the patient, stressing the need to clarify the circumstances and compliance with the law.
President Andrzej Duda: strong voice in debate
In an interview with Television Trwam on 25 April 2025, President Andrzej Duda unequivocally condemned the procedure, calling it
"the murder of an unborn child" and "barbaric".
He stressed that he felt that the people responsible should be held liable for criminal offences. He pointed out that the guidelines of the Ministry of Health are not a right and that the Constitution and decisions of the Constitutional Court concerning the protection of life apply in Poland.
The President also stressed the moral and political responsibility of those who allowed the procedure to be carried out. His position reflects the deep social division in Poland around abortion and the role of the state in protecting life.
The Jagielska case – what next?
- The prosecution shall conduct an investigation.
- There is a debate on the future of abortion law in Poland – whether to return to the so-called compromise or introduce clear regulations on the limit of foetal survival.
- The doctor and her team emphasize that they acted in accordance with the Act, and the case revealed gaps and ambiguities in Polish law.
Summary
The issue of abortion by Gizela Jagielska has become a symbol of a wider dispute over the limits of law, ethics and politics in Poland. President Duda's statement gave her a national dimension, showing how strong emotions and divisions evoke abortion in Polish society.
