Poland: Doctors found guilty over death of pregnant woman
Izabela, 30, entered hospital in September 2021 in the town of Pszczyna, southern Poland. Her foetus had already been diagnosed with severe developmental defects but she was not offered an abortion and later died from septic shock following the death of her baby.According to Polish media reports at the time, Izabela had sent a text message to her mother after being admitted saying: "The baby weighs 485g. For now, thanks to the abortion law, I have to lie down and there's nothing they can do. They'll wait until it dies, or something starts, and if it doesn't, I can expect sepsis."The hospital later said its decisions were based on concern for the health of the mother and foetus.The death of Izabela and her baby came months after a Constitutional Court ruling took effect that banned abortions in cases of severe foetal malformation. The overwhelming majority (98%) of all legal abortions in Poland were performed for that reason in 2019, a year before the court ruling.As a result, abortions could only be performed when the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest or when the mother's health was endangered. While Izabela's family believed the ruling meant doctors at the hospital were afraid to intervene, an investigation by prosecutors concluded in 2023 that it had no impact on the doctors' actions.All three doctors were charged with directly endangering Izabela's life. One of them, identified as Andrzej P, was also charged with causing involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and banned from practicing medicine for six years.A second, Michal M, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment and barred from practicing for six years. The third, Krzysztof P, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and barred from practicing for four years.The doctors did not admit the charges and can appeal against their convictions. Following the verdicts, Antonina Lewandowska, national advocacy coordinator for Federa, a women's rights organisation, told the BBC: "No ruling is going to bring Izabela back. It's outrageous the ruling is so mild given the crime presented to the court. Izabela deserved better and the women in Poland deserve better."The ruling is a good thing, but justice was only partially served. Such a verdict will not resonate within the medical community which is hesitant about performing abortions to say the least," she added.In an interview published by the website onet.pl, Izabela's sister-in-law Barbara Skrobol said: "She died consciously, suffering physically and mentally. "She begged for help, knowing she might die."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Now THAT'S what you call breath-taking! Diver holds his breath underwater for over 29 MINUTES to set new world record
A diver has set a truly breathtaking world record for the longest time spent holding his breath underwater. Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić spent 29 minutes and three seconds submerged in water on a single breath. That set the Guinness World Record for the 'longest time breath held voluntarily underwater', smashing the previous record by almost five minutes. During his half-hour feat, Mr Maričić held his breath for twice the length of a bottlenose dolphin's longest recorded dive. In fact, that incredible achievement puts Mr Maričić on par with a harbour seal. Harbour seals can exchange 90 per cent of the air in their lungs with one breath, compared to only 20 per cent in humans. So, to compete with nature's freedivers, Mr Maričić used pure oxygen to purge his blood of excess nitrogen. He breathed pure oxygen for 10 minutes before holding his breath, bringing his blood oxygen levels to five times the normal limit. Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić broke the world record for the longest time spent underwater on a single breath, smashing the previous record by more than four minutes On June 14, Mr Maričić lay down in a three-metre pool inside the Bristol Hotel in Opatija, Croatia, in front of five official judges and some 100 spectators. Before trying to hold his breath, he used a tank of pure oxygen to undergo a process called denitrogenation. Typically, the lungs of a healthy adult hold about 450ml of usable oxygen because oxygen only makes up about 21 per cent of the air we breathe. Breathing pure oxygen means that the lungs can take in around three litres of oxygen with every breath, washing nitrogen out of the blood and supercharging it with oxygen. That not only filled his red blood cells with as much oxygen as possible, but also dissolved oxygen into his blood plasma - something that cannot happen under normal circumstances. In a medical setting, doctors might use this technique to expand an unconscious patient's 'safe apnea time' - the amount of time someone can safely go without breathing. Here, Mr Maričić used the same principle to massively enhance his ability to hold his breath. However, even with the assistance of pure oxygen, holding your breath for half an hour is still a superhuman achievement. In most people, the safe apnea time with pure oxygen is still only eight minutes - less than a third of the time Mr Maričić went without a breath. The previous record for an oxygen-assisted breath hold was set by fellow-Croatian Budimir Šobat, who held his breath for 24 minutes and 37 seconds. Before that, the record had been set by the magician David Blaine, who held his breath for 17 minutes and four seconds during a live broadcast on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Going further requires intense levels of mental control and the use of techniques that slow down the body's oxygen consumption. Harbour seals, for example, are able to slow their heartbeats from 100 beats per minute to just 10 while underwater. In a post on Instagram, Mr Maričić says: 'It's not about how much you inhale, it's about how little you need. No panic, no thoughts, just silence. That's how you make it to 29.' Mr Maričić also warns that this record is not something most people should attempt to repeat. 'This is a very advanced stunt done after years of professional training and should not be attempted without proper guidance and safety. O2 and CO2 toxicity can be lethal,' he wrote on Instagram. The first record for an oxygen-assisted breath hold was set by the magician David Blaine, who held his breath for 17 minutes during a live recording of The Oprah Winfrey Show Breathing pure oxygen can lead to a condition called oxygen toxicity, which can lead to dizziness, confusion, and convulsions. Taking supplemental oxygen before diving also increases the risk of blacking out while underwater, since it allows more time for CO2 to build up in the bloodstream. This can lead to carbon dioxide toxicity, which causes difficulty breathing, vomiting, and blackouts. Mr Maričić said: 'Do have in mind, diving with pure O2 can be dangerous and even fatal.' South Korea's real-life mermaids: The female divers swimming to 65ft until they are 90 Known as Haenyeo, or 'women of the sea', are a group of female freedivers from the island of Jeju, South Korea. This talented group of women have been in charge of providing for their families since the 17th century when many of the men were either conscripted to the army or had lost their lives at sea. Despite their age, these women spent more than half of their time underwater across the two to 10 hours of diving per day – the greatest proportion of any humans previously studied. According to a recent study, the women spend more of their time out at sea than polar bears. They use short, quick dives to gather seafood from the ocean floor, including conches, abalone and various other sea creatures. They are able to reach depths of 65 ft using no equipment other than their wetsuits, flippers, and goggles. Following a dive they would 'recover' for an average of just nine seconds above water before plunging down again. That allowed them to spend more time underwater than marine mammals like beevers, spending an astonishing 56 per cent of their time submerged. Surprisingly, the women did not display the classic mammalian 'dive response' – a slowing of the heart and reduced blood flow to muscles during dives. Instead, they showed increased heart rates and only mild oxygen reductions in the brain and muscles.
The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
The 3 holiday hotspots with highest risk of deadly ‘suitcase viruses' that attack organs and cause ‘debilitating' pain
WITH 'suitcase viruses' making a comeback in recent years, experts are urging Brits travelling abroad to take extra precautions. Holidaymakers travelling to three popular European destinations could be at risk of two deadly viruses. 2 Mosquitoes carrying viruses can travel in suitcases, often unnoticed, and pose a risk of introducing diseases to new areas. Two mosquito-borne viruses most prevalent at the moment, particularly for travellers returning to the UK, are dengue fever and chikungunya. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently warned of a "worrying increase in chikunyunga cases" among travellers returning to the UK. Chikungunya virus is primarily spread to humans through the bite of infected aedes mosquitoes. Described as a "nasty disease", it causes severe joint and muscle pain, headaches, sensitivity to light and skin rashes. While Chikungunya is generally not considered fatal, it can be in very rare cases, particularly among vulnerable populations like the very young, elderly, or those with pre-existing health conditions. Most recently, there's been an outbreak in China, with 7,000 cases reported, mostly across the city of Foshan, in the southern province of Guangdong, sparking global fears. In 2024, 904 dengue cases were recorded in returning travellers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland - up from 631 in 2023 - with all cases linked to travel abroad. Like chikungunya, dengue fever is spread through the bite of infected aedes mosquitoes. In its mild form, dengue fever causes fever and a rash and lasts about a week. What is Chikungunya Severe dengue can cause shock, internal bleeding, and death. About one out of 20 people with dengue will develop severe dengue within a few hours after symptoms start. To stop the number of cases of chikunyunga and dengue fever increasing, UK health officials recommend keeping up-to-date on health risks in different countries. And a new report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has revealed the holiday hotspots in Europe with the highest number cases of chikunyunga and dengue fever currently. Chikunyunga Since the beginning of 2025, and as of August 13, two countries in Europe have reported cases of chikungunya - France and Italy. So far, France has reported 111 cases of locally-acquired chikungunya in 22 different clusters. And compared to the previous week, the number of cases has increased by 48 cases. Areas in France where cases have been reported include Charente (five cases in one cluster), Côte-d'Or (one case in one cluster), and Haute-Corse (two cases in one cluster). Two new cases were reported in two new clusters in Alpes-Maritime and a one new case in a new cluster in Isère. The largest clusters are located in Vitrolles, with an increase of 20 cases in the last week, Grosseto-Prugna, Salon-de-Provence, Grans, and Lambesc, Castries, Poulx and Caveirac. In the last week, Italy has reported five new cases in three new clusters - three cases in Modena and two cases in Verona province. Dengue fever Since the beginning of this year up until now, dengue fever has also been reported in France and Italy - 11 cases in France, and four in Italy. But Portugal has also reported two. The are currently six clusters reported in France, located in Aubagne, and Bouches-du-Rhône. In the last week, a new case has been reported in Vicenza province in Italy. And the cases in Portugal, reported in January, were in Madeira, and probably transmitted in 2024, says the ECDC. Is it safe to travel to these countries? 2 It's considered safe to travel to Europe, including areas with reported chikungunya and dengue fever cases. Most reported cases of the viruses in Europe are imported, meaning they are contracted by travellers returning from affected areas outside of Europe. However, local transmission is increasing due to the spread of mosquitoes like the aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito). So when travelling abroad it's crucial to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Follow the tips below... HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST CHIKUNYUNGA AND DENGUE FEVER PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES Use insect repellent: Apply a repellent containing DEET, IR3535, or picaridin to exposed skin, following product label instructions. Wear protective clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes, especially during peak mosquito activity times (early morning and early evening). Use mosquito nets: Sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, especially in areas with poor window and door screening. SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE Consult a doctor or travel clinic: Before travelling to areas with known outbreaks, consult with a doctor or travel clinic for specific advice and potential vaccinations or preventative medications. Consider vaccination: If travelling to high-risk areas, inquire about available vaccines for dengue or chikungunya. OTHER IMPORTANT MEASURES Stay informed: Keep up-to-date on local mosquito-borne disease outbreaks and recommendations. Be aware of symptoms: Familiarise yourself with the symptoms of chikungunya and dengue, including fever, joint pain, headache, and rash. Seek medical care: If you develop symptoms, seek prompt medical attention. Pregnant women: Pregnant women should take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites, as infection can be harmful to the fetus.
The Guardian
32 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Weight loss drugs: how will you be affected by the Mounjaro price rise in the UK?
Eli Lilly, the US manufacturer of the weight loss jab Mounjaro, has said the price will rise by 170% in the UK. From September, the price of the drug will increase with a month's supply of the highest dose rising from £122 to £330. The change comes as Donald Trump ramps up pressure on drugmakers to increase their prices for Europeans so that they can make them more affordable for Americans. We'd like to hear from people who use Mounjaro and how the change in cost might affect them. Have you explored switching to a different medication? Are you worried you will have to stop and might put weight back on? You can tell us how the new price of Mounjaro will affect you by filling in the form below, or messaging us. Please include as much detail as possible. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. Contact us on WhatsApp at +447766780300. For more information, please see our guidance on contacting us via WhatsApp. For true anonymity please use our SecureDrop service instead. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.
