Research article summary (published 30 May 2009):

Matters of "conscience": the politics of reproductive healthcare in Poland.

Full Abstract

The fall of state socialism in Poland in 1989 constituted a critical moment that redefined policies regulating reproductive health and access to care. As the Polish state adopted the discourse and agenda of the Catholic Church in its health policies, reproduction and sexuality became sites of moral governance through the implementation of the Conscience Clause law, which permits healthcare providers to deny medical services citing conscience-based objections. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this article explores the effects of the implementation of the conscience clause and argues that the adoption of this law for individual use paved the way for restrictions on reproductive healthcare on a systemic scale. The special status afforded to the church is highly significant for access to health services deemed by the church to be matters of morality. The Polish case raises concerns about the place of women's rights in postsocialism and the nature of Polish democratization.

Author information

Author/s: Mishtal, Joanna Z (JZ);

Affiliation: Department of Anthropology University of Central Florida.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Medical anthropology quarterly (Med Anthropol Q), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 23 (issue 2) : pp 161-83

Dates: Created 2009/06/30; Completed 2009/07/15; Revised 2009/09/22;

PMID: 19562954, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/22/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

ErratumIn: Med Anthropol Q. 2009 Sept;23(3):356.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Abortion, Induced Catholicism Conscience Contraception Delivery of Health Care Ethics Female Health Policy

Health Services Accessibility Humans Morals Poland Politics Public Policy Reproductive Health Services Women's Rights

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