FEDERA’s COMMENTARY ON THE NEW MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROPOSAL
The Ministry of Health has prepared a draft proposal providing for the creation of so-called “birth rooms” within emergency departments – a purported way of addressing the closure of maternity wards.
We have carried out an analysis of the regulation, consulting midwives during the process.The analysis shows that an emergency department is not a space designed for conducting births. There are situations that require the immediate intervention of a suitably qualified doctor or a surgical team, such as sudden placental abruption or the urgent need for a caesarean section. Midwives are excellently prepared to manage physiological births and to recognise risks at an early stage, but they are not able to perform independently procedures that are reserved for doctors. Placing them in a situation in which they are forced to act alone because of staff shortages in emergency departments means making them responsible for complications over which they have no control.
We call for solutions that will protect both the safety of people giving birth and dignified working conditions for midwives: strengthening staffing levels, extending competences, and investing in infrastructure. Neither people in labour nor midwives can be left alone in situations where health and life are at stake.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND TRAINING CONFERENCE OF THE POLISH SEXOLOGICAL SOCIETY
FEDERA has become a partner organisation of the 2025 conference of the Polish Sexological Society. This partnership also includes the PONTON Group, operating within FEDERA and bringing an important youth and educational perspective. For us, this is an important signal that our many years of work and commitment are being noticed and appreciated within the community of professionals working in the field of sexual health.
ANITA’S CASE CONTINUED. OUTCOME OF THE PROSECUTORIAL PROCEEDINGS
The prosecution has confirmed that Gizela Jagielska, a courageous doctor cooperating with FEDERA, did not breach the law when she provided Ms Anita with lawful abortion care. In doing so, the prosecution confirmed a number of FEDERA’s legal interpretations, including the legality of foetal asystole, the absence of a time limit restricting access to abortion care, and the broad scope of risks – including to mental health – that justify the termination of pregnancy.
An appeal against the discontinuation of the proceedings was lodged by Małgorzata Manowska, who heads the Supreme Court as its First President. The appeal was not upheld by the prosecution.
EMPLOYMENT OF DR. GIZELA JAGIELSKA
At the end of the year, Gizela Jagielska’s term of employment at the Oleśnica hospital comes to an end. Following a competition procedure, her employment was not extended, and the managerial positions were awarded to her deputies, in a procedure that raises serious concerns.
After analysing this year’s competition criteria and the information that the successful doctors were informed of the proposed appointments already at the end of September (while the competition was formally announced on 28 November), there are grounds to fear that the competition was unfair. Accordingly, FEDERA’s Legal Team has lodged an appeal against the outcome of the competition.
In FEDERA’s view, the competition appears to have been tailored to appoint specific individuals, to the detriment of the quality of care at the Oleśnica hospital, to the detriment of patients, and to the detriment of access to lawful abortion in Poland.
“MY VOICE MY CHOICE” INITIATIVE
The European Parliament has supported the European Citizens’ Initiative My Voice My Choice, which aims to guarantee women in Europe the right to safe and legal abortion within the EU by creating a European financial support mechanism.
With strong backing from the European Parliament, the Initiative will now be submitted to the European Commission, which is obliged to take a position on the matter and potentially indicate specific legislative changes.
FEDERA commented on the vote in a series of statements for national and international media and was also involved in the process of collecting signatures in support of the Initiative.
PETITION IN DEFENCE OF DR. MACIEJ SOCHA AND PRO-CHOICE DOCTORS
We received with concern information about further cases of pressure being exerted by public figures known for aggressive anti-abortion actions against doctors and hospitals. The most recent reports concern Professor Maciej Socha, an outstanding specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at St Wojciech Hospital in Gdańsk, and the regional consultant for obstetrics and gynaecology.
We cannot allow yet another hospital to become a target of anti-abortion activists amid the complete passivity of the state. In defence of the doctor, we have launched a petition.
SUCCESS OF KAMILA FERENC, VICE-PRESIDENT OF FEDERA FOUNDATION
We wholeheartedly congratulate Kamila on being named one of the 50 Bold Women of 2025 by Wysokie Obcasy magazine. This is a wonderful distinction recognising her tireless work to change abortion law in Poland. Her effort and commitment are a key element of our Foundation’s work.
1,147 REASONS TO TAKE ACTION
It has been an exceptionally busy year. We fought for the right to abortion, helped to ensure access to it in practice, and supported sexual education and access to contraception. At the same time, we developed the FEDERA Health Centre – our medical facility at 30 Świętokrzyska Street in Warsaw.
Thanks to your support, medical appointments and donations to our fundraising efforts, we were able to provide 1,147 visits for people who are less privileged and who usually do not have access to excellent specialists who will listen, examine them, and provide full medical information with great respect for the patient, taking their comfort and wellbeing into account. This is something we have managed to ensure for every single person.
FEDERA’S NEW PUBLICATION ON MENSTRUATION
Everything that matters about menstruation has been included in our latest brochure, “Get to Know Your Cycle – Menstruation Without Secrets”.
