For years, doctor Jarosław Górnicki has been prescribing the morning-after pill to women in Poland. In 2017, when the PiS government – against global medical recommendations and without scientific justification – introduced the requirement to obtain a prescription for emergency contraception, Dr. Górnicki chose a different path.
He began issuing prescriptions to anyone who came to him, charging only a symbolic PLN 1. He never asked humiliating questions, moralised, or forced women to justify their choices. Thanks to his support, thousands of women gained access to emergency contraception quickly, safely, and with dignity.
Importantly, Dr. Górnicki is not a gynaecologist, but a paediatrician and allergist. In the face of silence and inaction from much of the Polish gynaecological community, he decided to act on what he knew was right. His work has been completely legal, and the women who used his prescriptions faced no risk of punishment.
Disciplinary Action for Helping Women
Recently, the Ministry of Health and the Medical Council took interest in Dr. Górnicki’s work – not because he endangered patients, but because of the number of prescriptions he issued. He was asked to hand over medical records of some of his patients. He refused, defending the privacy and safety of the women who trusted him. For this, he now faces disciplinary proceedings.
FEDERA’s Support
FEDERA has taken Dr. Górnicki under its wing. Our legal team is representing him in these proceedings, and we have also launched a petition in his defence. Nearly 25,000 people have already signed it, showing broad public support for his actions.
Poland’s Place in Europe
According to the Contraception Policy Atlas 2025, Poland has the worst access to contraception in Europe. Together with Hungary, it is the only EU country that still requires a prescription for emergency contraception.
The Ministry of Health’s pilot programme launched in 2024 has done little to change this situation. Women in Poland continue to face systemic barriers to basic reproductive healthcare.
Dr. Górnicki’s case is not only about one doctor. It is about defending women’s dignity, privacy, and the right to decide about their own bodies.
