| Poland and Abortion |
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The New York Times, July 1, 2003
Letter to the Editor Re: "A Rocky Polish Landfall for a Dutch Abortion Boat" (news article, June 24) To the Editor: Restrictive abortion laws, introduced in 1993, punish Poland's most vulnerable people: poor, rural and young women. They cannot afford to pay private doctors (who face jail if they perform abortions in public hospitals) or to travel to neighboring countries to obtain safe services. Their only recourse, back-alley abortions, puts their lives and health at grave risk. The arrival of Women on Waves dramatizes the need for Poland's government to restore access to legal, safe abortion—a right that a majority of its citizens want. Sixty-five percent are pro-choice, according to a survey by the Center for Research on Public Opinion.
CYNTHIA STEELE Originally published in the New York Times, July 1, 2003. Reprinted with permission. |
