Abortion law Puerto Rico

The Legal Right to Abortion in Puerto Rico

Abortion is legal in Puerto Rico, if it is performed by a physician to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health. Health in this context means not only physical health, but also mental health, and socio-emotional well-being. However, Puerto Rico has a criminal abortion statute on the books that prohibits performing or undergoing an abortion for reasons other than protecting the woman’s life or health.3 That statute violates the U.S. Constitution, which applies to Puerto Rico, and which protects a woman’s right to choose an abortion for any reason up to the time of viability. Nonetheless, the statute has yet to be declared invalid by any court.

Information above has been retrieved from the Center for Reproductive Rights website.