I’m writing to you as I wanted to know where Cayman stands on abortions. I assume it’s illegal as I couldn’t find much information on it but I just wanted to clarify. I’ve had my little pregnancy scares before and I know others could benefit from the information you could find and provide us with.


Auntie’s answer: Your assumption is correct. The information you are looking for can be found in the Penal Code (2017 Revision). Sections 141-143 deal with offences related to abortion, which I will summarise for you.

Under the first section, “Attempts to procure abortion”, the code says, “A person who with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman, whether she is or is not with child, unlawfully administers to her any poison or other noxious thing, or uses any force of any kind, or other means whatsoever to that purpose commits an offence.”

However, it will not be considered an offence if it was done “for the purpose only of preserving the life of the mother”.

Section 142, “Attempt by woman with child to procure abortion” specifies that any pregnant woman who tries to get an abortion or attempts to do something to herself to cause an abortion commits an offence.

The last relevant section is 143, “Supplying drugs or instruments to procure abortion” which stipulates, “A person who unlawfully procures for or supplies to any person any thing whatsoever, knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to procure the miscarriage of a woman, whether she is or is not with child, commits an offence.”

The document mentioned in this column can be found on the CNS Library