Abortion law Cook Islands

Grounds on which abortion is permitted 

       To save the life of the woman             

       To preserve physical health                

       To preserve mental health                  

But not permitted under the following conditions:

       Rape or incest                                                   

       Foetal impairment                                             

       Economic or social reasons                              

       Available on request

Source: The UN country report

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COOK ISLANDS.  Crimes Act 1969.

63. Surgical operations - Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for performing with reasonable care and skill any surgical operation upon any part for his benefits, if the performance of the operation was reasonable, having regard to the patient's state at the time and to all the circumstances of the case.

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202. Killing unborn child - (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years who causes the death of any child that has not become a human being in such a manner that he would have been guilty of murder if the child had become a human being.

(2) No one is guilty of any crime who before or during the birth of any child causes its death by means employed in good faith for the preservation of the life of the mother.

203. Procuring abortion by drug or instrument - (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of any woman or girl, whether she is with child or not,

(a) Unlawfully administers to or causes to be taken by her any poison or any drug or any noxious thing; or

(b) Unlawfully uses on her any instrument.

(2) The woman or girl shall not be charged as a party to an offence against this section.

204. Procuring abortion by other means - (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of any woman or girl, whether she is with child or not, unlawfully uses on her any means whatsoever, not being means to which section 203 of this Act applies.

(2) The woman or girl shall not be charged as a party to an offence against this section.

205. Female procuring her own miscarriage - Every woman or girl is liable to imprisonment exceeding three years who with intent to procure miscarriage, whether she is with child or not,-

(a) Unlawfully administers to herself, or permits to be administered to her, any poison or any drug or any noxious thing; or

(b) Unlawfully uses on herself, or permits to be used on her, any instrument; or

(c) Unlawfully uses on herself, or permits to be used on her, any other means whatsoever.

206. Supplying means of procuring abortion - Everyone is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years who unlawfully supplies or procures any poison or any drug or any noxious thing, or any instrument or other thing, whether of a like nature or not, believing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to procure miscarriage.

207. Effectiveness of means used immaterial - The provisions of sections 203 to 206 of this Act shall apply whether or not the poison, drug, thing, instrument, or means administered, taken, used, supplied, or procured was in fact capable of procuring miscarriage.