Georgia Woman on Life Support Due to Anti-Abortion Laws
A medically brain-dead pregnant woman from Georgia is being kept alive on a ventilator until the upcoming birth of her baby, highlighting the stark implications of the state's stringent anti-abortion legislation. Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old mother and nurse, has been in a vegetative state since February of this year. Georgia's laws prevent the humane withdrawal of life support, which would otherwise be considered an illegal abortion, a predicament that has thrust her family into a harrowing situation.
Smith’s journey took a tragic turn when she began experiencing severe headaches, prompting her admission to Northside Hospital in early February. After receiving treatment, she was released. However, the following morning, her boyfriend found her gasping for air and immediately contacted emergency services. Medical professionals at Emory University Hospital subsequently diagnosed her with blood clots in her brain and declared her brain dead shortly thereafter.
As of now, Smith is 21 weeks pregnant. The average full-term pregnancy spans from 39 weeks to 40 weeks and six days, according to guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Tragically, the removal of her breathing apparatus and other life-sustaining measures would likely lead to the death of the fetus, as articulated by both her family and medical experts.
Due to confidentiality regulations, neither hospital has commented extensively on Smith’s case. However, Emory University Hospital did release a statement emphasizing their commitment to patient well-being and adherence to Georgia’s abortion laws and other relevant legal frameworks. They affirmed that decisions on treatment are based on a consensus from medical experts, clinical literature, and legal advice.
According to the family, doctors have highlighted that Georgia's strict abortion laws prevent them from ceasing life support, which typically becomes illegal after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus. This particular law was enacted in 2019 and took effect in 2022, resulting in a wave of abortion restrictions across the state. Currently, Georgia is one of 12 states where abortion is banned at all stages of the pregnancy, while three states, including Georgia, allow abortions only until about six weeks of gestation.
The Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act in Georgia does permit abortion under specific circumstances where the mother’s life is in danger. Abortions are also allowed if the pregnancy is deemed medically futile or in instances of rape or incest, but these cases require police documentation and are limited to 20 weeks of gestation.
Family members, including Smith’s five-year-old son, make regular visits to the hospital. Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, expressed profound concern for the health of the fetus, revealing that there is fluid accumulating around its brain. “She’s pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he’s born,” Newkirk lamented in an interview with WXIA.
Monica Simpson, the executive director of the reproductive rights organization SisterSong and a key figure in a legal challenge against the state’s abortion ban, criticized the situation surrounding Smith. She emphasized the need for families to retain the authority to make medical decisions for their loved ones. “Her family deserved the right to have decision-making power about her medical decisions,” Simpson stated. “Instead, they have endured over 90 days of retraumatization, expensive medical costs, and the cruelty of being unable to resolve and move toward healing.”
As it stands, the current plan is to maintain Smith on life support until the child reaches a stage of viability, which is generally considered to be around 24 weeks into the pregnancy, according to standards established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
