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MałgorzataEysymontt•Theinterferenceofthelegislator...
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reificationoftheconceivedchildrenwhoarenottheaggressorsandonlybecome
objectsoftheactionsaimedattheselectionofthe“defectivelife”or“lifenot
worthliving”.AccordingtotheProsecutorGeneralthetermsusedintheArticle4a
clause1point2oftheLawonplanningfamilywerevagueand“severeimpairment
ofthefoetus”didnothavetomeanthelimitationofthephysicalormentalfitness
soseriousthatitcouldthreatenthelifeoftheconceivedchild.Healsoreferred
tothequantifier“highprobability”oftheappearanceofasevereandirreversible
impairmentofthefoetusortheincurablelifethreateningdiseaseasonlythe
prediction(prognosis)ofthedoctor.Inaddition,theOmbudsmanforchildren
arguedthatanumberoftheabortionproceduresperformedonthebasisofthe
Lawonplanningfamilyisincreasing,wherethemostcommonreasonforitisthe
trisomy21,i.e.theDownsyndrome,despitethefactthatpersonssufferingfromthe
Downsyndromearecapableoffunctioningwiththesupportoftheinstitutionsor
theclosestpersons(relatives)andsometimesalsoontheirown.Inhisopinion,the
mostprobablereasonfortheincreaseoftheterminationofpregnancyprocedures
isalackofsocialtolerancetowardspersonssufferingfromgeneticdisorders,
especiallythevisibledysmorphia.Thisstatementisquestionable.
TheConstitutionalTribunalruledthateventhefactoftheundoubtfulsevere
andirreversibleimpairmentofthefoetusortheincurablelife-threateningdisease
doesnotmeanthatahumanaffectedbythemmaynotenjoythefullexerciseof
theconstitutionallyguaranteedrightsandfreedomsduringthepostnatalphaseof
lifeandArticle4aclause1point2oftheLawonplanningfamilydoesnotallow
toassumethatthehighprobabilityofthesevereandirreversibleimpairmentof
thefoetusoritsincurablelife-threateningdiseaseistoconstitutethebasisfor
theautomaticpresumptionoftheviolationofthewelfareofthepregnantwoman
whilethemereindicationofthepotentialburdenofsuchdefectsonachildis
eugenicinitsnature.
ThejudgementoftheConstitutionalTribunalwasfollowedbytwodissenting
opinions,whichIfullysupportinrelationtotheconclusionsregardingthesevere
andinadmissibleinterferenceinthefreedomofdecisionandtherighttoself-
determinationofPolishwomen,theoreticallyguaranteedbythelegislatorunder
thePolishConstitution.
AccordingtojudgeLeonKieres,inthelightofthecontestedArticle4aclause1
point2oftheLawonplanningfamily,terminationofpregnancyispossible
exclusivelyinasituationwhereprenataltestsorothermedicalindicationspoint
toahighprobabilityofthesevereandirreversibleimpairmentofthefoetusor
itsincurablelife-threateningdisease,i.e.theobjectiveandverifiablecriteriaof
amedicalnature,establishedinaformalisedandmulti-stageprocedure.Herightly
