Polish reproductive rights protesters decry death of woman denied life-saving abortion

Warsaw, November 9 (RHC)-- In Poland, tens of thousands of people took to the streets over the weekend to protest the death of a 30-year-old pregnant woman who died in September after she was refused treatment amid Poland’s near-total ban on abortions. 

Advocates say Izabela, known as Iza, is the first person to die as a result of the draconian anti-choice law, as doctors refused to abort a fetus that showed numerous defects, and delayed offering care to Iza until a fetal heartbeat could no longer be detected. 

One of the protesters in Warsaw told reporters: “'I don't want to die,’ Iza said to a woman in the hospital room.  Iza did not receive help because she was pregnant, because the heart of the fetus was still beating. … Iza could have lived.  There was enough to take care of her, her health and her life.  Iza died on September 22nd from sepsis.  Iza was a mother, daughter, wife, sister and a friend.”