Prosecutor's Office Investigates Legality of Pregnancy Termination Procedures at Gdańsk Hospital

The District Prosecutor's Office in Gdańsk has officially initiated preparatory proceedings regarding the suspicion of a crime involving illegal pregnancy termination at a Gdańsk hospital. Investigators are examining the circumstances of at least seven procedures that took place recently. The notification in this case was filed by the Life and Family Foundation, represented by activist Kaja Godek. According to media reports, the medical facility had previously refused to provide detailed information about the number and legal grounds of the abortions performed, citing personal data protection and medical confidentiality. The prosecutor's office is currently reviewing medical documentation and verifying whether the statutory grounds allowing pregnancy termination were indeed present in the cases under investigation. The case evokes strong emotions due to the political and legal context concerning the protection of unborn life in Poland. The investigation aims to clarify whether doctors exceeded their authority and whether patients were exposed to danger. Some sources suggest the procedures may have involved fetuses that had reached viability outside the mother's body, which would constitute a serious violation of the law. The hospital management refutes the allegations, claiming all procedures were conducted in accordance with the letter of the law and based on reliable medical opinions. The proceedings are being conducted as an inquiry, meaning no charges have been brought against anyone at this stage. The abortion law currently in force in Poland was significantly tightened following the 2020 Constitutional Tribunal ruling, which deemed the embryopathological ground incompatible with the constitution. Currently, pregnancy termination is permissible only in situations of a threat to the mother's life or health, or when the pregnancy results from a criminal act. During the investigation, a key aspect will be determining how the ground of a threat to the mother's mental health was interpreted, which has become a frequent reference point in medical debates after 2020. Prosecutors plan to question medical staff and appoint experts in gynecology and obstetrics. The results of this investigation could have a significant impact on medical practice nationwide, setting boundaries for the criminal liability of medical professionals in borderline situations. The case is being monitored by women's rights organizations and pro-life associations, giving it a precedent-setting character on a national scale.