- The fact that prenatal tests were not available to the extent that medicine offers them was a bad situation. Knowledge harms no one, especially medical knowledge," said Deputy Health Minister Wojciech Konieczny in an interview with Polish Radio Program 1. He thus referred to the issue related to the fact that, on the one hand, access to prenatal examinations is to be increased, while on the other, the issue of access because of legal abortion is still unresolved.
Deputy Health Minister: Knowledge harms no one
Published Feb. 19, 2024 11:30
Fot . Grzegorz Skowronek / Agencja Gazeta
- If a woman finds out that a fetus is developing abnormally, this is, in the eyes of right-wing ideologues, a path to abortion. This is why they wanted to restrict prenatal testing. In the medical world, however, this is simply a reason for intervention, for treatment. Sometimes it can indeed end in abortion," said Wojciech Konieczny.
At the same time, the deputy health minister stressed that even in the current legal order there are grounds for abortion, which have so far been mentioned only in passing. This is a matter of a woman's mental health.
- If a woman has depression or emotional states that worsen when she learns that the fetus is severely damaged, this can even lead to a life-threatening situation. This can be a premise even today," the deputy health minister pointed out.
- I am surprised that the depenalization cases, that is, that in certain situations doctors should not be held responsible for a possible abortion, are not proceeding at a reasonable pace. Threatening doctors with prison, which is a chilling effect, can be withdrawn without changing the rationale. It is a pity that the work is not moving in this direction first, because it would be a small but significant step," assessed Wojciech Konieczny.
Updated recommendations for hospitals on pregnancy termination are currently being developed, he added.
- We are moving in the direction to help the woman. We are to act within the limits of the law, but there will be no more reprimanding of doctors," he declared.
