Human Rights Court rules against Poland in abortion case

Alicja Tysiac became pregnant in 2000 when she already had two children and a serious vision problem. Although eye doctors stated that her sight was likely to further deteriorate during pregnancy, the gynecologist she visited declared that this was not grounds for an abortion. The woman finally gave birth to the baby but suffered a serious vision loss and as a result is unable to work. She complained to the prosecutor about being denied the right to an abortion but her case was dismissed. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that she should receive EUR 25,000 in compensation from the Polish state. It also declared that if the state allows for abortion in specific cases, it should not make it difficult to use this possibility. Poland is considering appealing against the verdict. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1) E.B.