Polish authorities rule rights of pregnant woman who died were violated amid abortion law debate

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish health authorities said Monday that there was a violation of patient rights in the case of a woman who died of sepsis in the fifth month of pregnancy last month, a case that has gained scrutiny after a tightening of Poland’s already restrictive abortion law.

Poland's health minister, Adam Niedzielski, also stressed that every woman whose life or health is threatened by her pregnancy has the right to an abortion.

He announced that he was appointing a team to examine the country's guidelines on the termination of pregnancy, saying its members would include women.

“In Poland, every woman in the event of threat to health or life threat has the right to terminate a pregnancy," Niedzielski said.