On 16 April 2025, a deeply disturbing event unfolded in a hospital in Oleśnica, Poland. Polish far-right Member of the European Parliament, Grzegorz Braun, stormed the facility in an attempt to detain Dr. Gizela Jagielska—a gynaecologist who had legally performed an abortion at 37 weeks. The procedure was carried out due to severe fetal anomalies and a significant risk to the patient’s mental health, in full accordance with Polish law. The patient, who had previously been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward, was ultimately able to access the medical care she needed thanks to the intervention of FEDERA (Federation for Women and Family Planning) and allied organizations. She is now under FEDERA’s legal protection.
Dr. Jagielska, despite intimidation and public vilification, has returned to work and continues to provide care to her patients.
This incident is not isolated—it is part of a broader campaign of harassment and fear targeting women, healthcare providers, and reproductive rights advocates in Poland. It reflects the dangerous intersection of political extremism and anti-choice ideology, where legal and ethical medical care is framed as criminal, and doctors are publicly attacked for doing their jobs.
The act of forcibly entering a hospital to intimidate a physician is a chilling violation of medical autonomy and patient privacy. It underscores how volatile and unsafe the climate has become for those involved in reproductive health, even when acting fully within the law.
We stand in full solidarity with Dr. Jagielska, with the patient, and with all those in Poland working under immense pressure to defend the right to safe, legal, and compassionate reproductive care. This is not just about one doctor, one patient, or one procedure—it is about the future of reproductive rights and the rule of law in Poland.
SOURCE: FEDERA, ASTRA Bulletin 2, May 2025. pp.13-14. https://astra.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ASTRA_bulletin_2_2025.pdf