An abortion performed by Dr Gizela Jagielska in an advanced pregnancy has sparked outrage in Poland. The case has divided society and prompted a high-profile statement from President Andrzej Duda for Telewizja Trwam.
The Oleśnica Abortion Case: What Happened?
At a hospital in Oleśnica, Dr Gizela Jagielska performed an abortion in the 36th week of pregnancy. The patient, Mrs Anita, learned at a late stage of serious genetic defects in the foetus, which according to doctors could mean enormous suffering for the child. The doctor invoked a psychiatric ground, arguing that the decision was consistent with Polish law and was motivated by concern for the patient’s mental health.
The procedure involved an injection into the foetal heart, which caused a stillbirth. The case was referred to the prosecutor’s office and triggered a wave of protests and intervention by politicians, including Grzegorz Braun, who attempted to carry out a citizen’s arrest of the doctor.
Social and Political Echoes: Divided Opinions
Main Arguments
- Supporters of the doctor stress that she acted in accordance with the law and medical recommendations, and that similar cases occur across Europe.
- Critics point to the advanced stage of the pregnancy and the moral dimension of the decision. Some members of the medical community and pro-life organisations have described the procedure as crossing ethical and legal boundaries.
Response from the Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health launched an inspection in all facilities that provided care to the patient, stressing the need to clarify the circumstances and establish whether the procedure complied with the law.
President Andrzej Duda: A Strong Voice in the Debate
In an interview for Telewizja Trwam on 25 April 2025, President Andrzej Duda unequivocally condemned the procedure, calling it
“the murder of an unborn child” and “barbarism”.
He said that in his view, those responsible should be held criminally liable. He pointed out that the Ministry of Health’s guidelines are not law, and that Poland is governed by its constitution and by rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal concerning the protection of life.
The president also emphasised the moral and political responsibility of those who allowed the procedure to take place. His position reflects the deep social divide in Poland over abortion and the role of the state in protecting life.
The Jagielska Case: What Next?
- The prosecutor’s office is conducting an explanatory investigation.
- A debate is under way on the future of abortion law in Poland: whether to return to the so-called compromise, or to introduce clear regulations on the limit of foetal viability.
- The doctor and her team stress that they acted in accordance with the law, and that the case has revealed gaps and ambiguities in Polish legislation.
Summary
The abortion performed by Gizela Jagielska has become a symbol of a wider dispute over the boundaries of law, ethics and politics in Poland. President Duda’s statement gave it a nationwide dimension, showing how strong the emotions and divisions surrounding abortion remain in Polish society.
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