Paul KeenanWarsaw mayor dismisses physician
A leading physician in Poland has been dismissed from his post for refusing to perform an abortion.
Despite his reliance on the country’s protection for conscience in cases such as medical terminations, Professor Bogdan Chazan, former director of Warsaw’s Holy Family hospital was sacked by Warsaw’s Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz when the case came to light.
Dating to May, the case in question centred on an expectant mother who requested Prof. Chazan to perform and abortion after she had learned that the foetus would have severe deformities. This reality is one of the criteria for the legal procurement of a termination in Poland. However, Prof. Chazan declared his objection, based on conscience, and referred the woman to a palliative clinic where the child was born.
A subsequent inquiry into the matter, launched by the mayor’s office, accused Prof. Chazan of malpractice on the basis that, allegedly, he did not fully inform the expectant mother of her alternative options regarding abortion after his own refusal and ordered a battery of futile tests in order to delay matters until the 24th week of pregnancy, the legal cut-off for a termination. Prof. Chazan has denied these accusations.
Speaking in support of the doctor, Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw said the issue set a “dangerous precedent” of violating the conscientious rights of all Poles and not Catholics alone.
Since Prof. Chazan’s departure, there have been allegations of a plot by pro-abortion advocates to oust him. A figure known widely in Poland for his pro-life credentials, supporters have questioned why a woman would choose to approach him to procure an abortion when his pro-life views have been so publicly stated and defended over the years.
Prof. Chazan has announced his intention to appeal the inquiry findings and his dismissal.