A mother of three in Poland has been convicted of and sentenced for defamation after she alleged online that a doctor had pressured her to have an abortion.

Two years ago, a woman named Weronika responded to an online question from another woman asking for recommendations on doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies. According to The Poland Report, “the doctor in question, Piotr A.,” had previously diagnosed Weronika’s preborn child with Down syndrome and then allegedly pressured her to have an abortion. Weronika shared this online with the woman and further alleged that Piotr A. had offered to commit an illegal abortion on her child in his private facility. She continued to refuse his pressure to abort, and her child was born without Down syndrome.

Most preborn children are protected from abortion in Poland, with exceptions for health of the mother and babies conceived in rape and incest.

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A few months later, police called Weronika and told her she was being charged with defamation under Article 212 of the Polish Penal Code. They took saliva samples and her fingerprints. Under that article, defamation of a person is punishable by a fine or the restriction of freedom. Committing defamation using mass media is punishable by fine, restriction of freedom, and potential imprisonment of up to one year.

READ: Tens of thousands march for life in Poland as lawmakers attempt to end preborn lives

Weronika was put on trial, which was held behind closed doors. On February 10, 2025, Judge Wojciech Jankowski sentenced her to four months of community service. She is also required to pay 1,812 zlotys ($468) in court fees and publish an apology.

Judge Jankowski allegedly received criticism from some of the people present in the courtroom, who said he did not act impartially. He allegedly halted proceedings to call in a pro-life activist who was present outside the building. He then questioned her for an hour about when human life begins and if preborn children can feel pain. He allegedly also asked her to interpret Weronkia’s medical records in what many saw as an attempt to discredit pro-lifers.

Weronika, with the help of Życie i Rodzina Foundation (The Life and Family Foundation), will appeal the ruling.

The doctor at the center of the case, Piotr A., had previously been convicted of committing at least 20 illegal abortions over two years and attempting to extort money from the patients.

A man accused Piotr A.’s bodyguard of kidnapping him from his office and demanding 2,000 zlotys for an abortion that Piotr A. committed on the man’s fiancée. He also allegedly falsified medical documents, illegally sedated patients without an anesthesiologist license, possessed prescription pads stamped with other doctors’ credentials, and the women whose babies were aborted faced complications. He was sentenced to two years in prison — a suspended sentence — and was allowed to keep his medical license.

A mother of three in Poland has been convicted of and sentenced for defamation after she alleged online that a doctor had pressured her to have an abortion.

Two years ago, a woman named Weronika responded to an online question from another woman asking for recommendations on doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies. According to The Poland Report, “the doctor in question, Piotr A.,” had previously diagnosed Weronika’s preborn child with Down syndrome and then allegedly pressured her to have an abortion. Weronika shared this online with the woman and further alleged that Piotr A. had offered to commit an illegal abortion on her child in his private facility. She continued to refuse his pressure to abort, and her child was born without Down syndrome.

Most preborn children are protected from abortion in Poland, with exceptions for health of the mother and babies conceived in rape and incest.

Abortion Doctors Share How The Most Common Abortion Procedures Take Place

A few months later, police called Weronika and told her she was being charged with defamation under Article 212 of the Polish Penal Code. They took saliva samples and her fingerprints. Under that article, defamation of a person is punishable by a fine or the restriction of freedom. Committing defamation using mass media is punishable by fine, restriction of freedom, and potential imprisonment of up to one year.

READ: Tens of thousands march for life in Poland as lawmakers attempt to end preborn lives

Weronika was put on trial, which was held behind closed doors. On February 10, 2025, Judge Wojciech Jankowski sentenced her to four months of community service. She is also required to pay 1,812 zlotys ($468) in court fees and publish an apology.

Judge Jankowski allegedly received criticism from some of the people present in the courtroom, who said he did not act impartially. He allegedly halted proceedings to call in a pro-life activist who was present outside the building. He then questioned her for an hour about when human life begins and if preborn children can feel pain. He allegedly also asked her to interpret Weronkia’s medical records in what many saw as an attempt to discredit pro-lifers.

Weronika, with the help of Życie i Rodzina Foundation (The Life and Family Foundation), will appeal the ruling.

The doctor at the center of the case, Piotr A., had previously been convicted of committing at least 20 illegal abortions over two years and attempting to extort money from the patients.

A man accused Piotr A.’s bodyguard of kidnapping him from his office and demanding 2,000 zlotys for an abortion that Piotr A. committed on the man’s fiancée. He also allegedly falsified medical documents, illegally sedated patients without an anesthesiologist license, possessed prescription pads stamped with other doctors’ credentials, and the women whose babies were aborted faced complications. He was sentenced to two years in prison — a suspended sentence — and was allowed to keep his medical license.