Kornelia Zareba1, Michał Ciebiera2, Jacek Gierus3, Grzegorz Jakiel1. 1. a First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education , Warsaw , Poland. 2. b Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education , Warsaw , Poland. 3. c Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences , Medical University of Warsaw , Warsaw , Poland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Polish society is strongly influenced by the Catholic Church and Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. We attempted to gather information by questionnaire from women considering termination of pregnancy (TOP). Women were asked about their perceptions of the attending medical staff and whether they felt they had been fully informed of their rights, as well as about conduct of the procedure itself in light of physicians' use of the 'conscience clause'. METHODS: Between June 2014 and May 2016 all women deemed eligible for TOP for medical reasons were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire (n = 240). A total of 150 questionnaires (62.5%) were returned and analysed. RESULTS: Most respondents (95%) lived in a town or city, and a significant number (40%) lived outside the area where the study centre was located. The main reason for such a large group of out-of-region respondents (53%) was the lack of centres offering TOP in the area where the women lived. Only one attending obstetrician did not support a decision to abort the pregnancy. Although 65% of treating physicians supported the woman's decision, only 8% were willing to perform the procedure themselves. CONCLUSION: Most regional centres offer no access to TOP, despite the legal right of women to abort their pregnancy in the event of a severe fetal defect. Some physicians refuse to perform abortions, citing conscientious objection. Double standards among treating physicians have been detected, as many support the decision of their patient but refuse to perform the procedure themselves.
OBJECTIVES: Polish society is strongly influenced by the Catholic Church and Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. We attempted to gather information by questionnaire from women considering termination of pregnancy (TOP). Women were asked about their perceptions of the attending medical staff and whether they felt they had been fully informed of their rights, as well as about conduct of the procedure itself in light of physicians' use of the 'conscience clause'. METHODS: Between June 2014 and May 2016 all women deemed eligible for TOP for medical reasons were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire (n = 240). A total of 150 questionnaires (62.5%) were returned and analysed. RESULTS: Most respondents (95%) lived in a town or city, and a significant number (40%) lived outside the area where the study centre was located. The main reason for such a large group of out-of-region respondents (53%) was the lack of centres offering TOP in the area where the women lived. Only one attending obstetrician did not support a decision to abort the pregnancy. Although 65% of treating physicians supported the woman's decision, only 8% were willing to perform the procedure themselves. CONCLUSION: Most regional centres offer no access to TOP, despite the legal right of women to abort their pregnancy in the event of a severe fetal defect. Some physicians refuse to perform abortions, citing conscientious objection. Double standards among treating physicians have been detected, as many support the decision of their patient but refuse to perform the procedure themselves.
Entities:
Keywords:
Abortion; fetal defects; health care; health care standard; medical personnel; moral dilemmas; termination of pregnancy
Authors: Kornelia Zaręba; Valentina Lucia La Rosa; Ewelina Kołb-Sielecka; Michał Ciebiera; Rosalia Ragusa; Jacek Gierus; Elena Commodari; Grzegorz Jakiel Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-05-31 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Kornelia Zaręba; Valentina Lucia La Rosa; Michał Ciebiera; Marta Makara-Studzińska; Jacek Gierus; Grzegorz Jakiel Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-09-14 Impact factor: 3.390