Polish hospital fined for refusing abortion to Anita after detaining her psychiatrically over 36-week pregnancy.
NFZ Imposes Penalty on Łodzi Hospital
On Monday, March 2, the National Health Fund (NFZ) Control Department concluded proceedings regarding Anita, as reported by “Wyborcza” in an article titled “Zamknęli mnie na oddziale psychiatrycznym. Miałam urodzić chore dziecko i oddać je do badań”.
Following the publication, the Ministry of Health ordered a control at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Łodzi, where the patient was staying. Documents obtained by “Wyborcza” indicate that doctors violated the patient’s rights.
Detention Over Abortion Certificate
During the control, it was determined that the hospital “made the provision of an abortion service conditional on submitting a certificate already in the hospital’s possession”.
Although the certificate, issued by psychiatrists from the same hospital, was available, gynecologists interpreted it differently and, citing a threat to health or life, confined Anita to an isolation unit on the psychiatric ward. Doctors intended to terminate the pregnancy via cesarean section, while Anita wanted to relinquish parental rights and “hand the child over to qualified state organs”. She objected and applied for an abortion via potassium chloride injection.
Doctor Performs Abortion in Oleśnica
A doctor at the hospital in Oleśnica, Dr. Gizela Jagielska, decided to perform the abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy.
