Adriana Smith, brain-dead Georgian mother who gave birth to a son, to be taken off life support
life support
soon.
Adriana Smith
was a nurse from metro Atlanta. She was declared brain dead on Feb 19, when she was 8 weeks pregnant, reports said.
The cause of death was blood clots in her brain after she had a bad headache and went to the hospital. The hospital sent her home, and within hours, she became unresponsive. Her family says the doctors later told them she had suffered blood clots and was brain dead.
Birth of baby Chance
On June 13 at 4:41 AM, Adriana's baby boy was born via emergency C-section. The baby's name is Chance and he was born prematurely. He was born very small, just 1 pound 13 ounces, and is now in the NICU. The family says he's still fighting but should be okay, as per the report by 11Alive.
Adriana has been on life support for almost 4 months. The hospital plans to remove life support on Tuesday, as confirmed by her mom. Her mom said it's really hard to accept and she wishes she had more time with her. The family celebrated Adriana's 31st birthday recently.
People across the country noticed Adriana's case because of Georgia's abortion law (House Bill 481 / LIFE Act). The law stops most abortions after a heartbeat is found but doesn't say what to do if the mom is brain dead. Doctors told the family they had to keep Adriana on life support because of the law, as per the report by 11Alive.
Live Events
But in May, the Georgia Attorney General's Office clarified that nothing in the law forces hospitals to keep brain-dead pregnant women on machines. Emory Healthcare, where she was treated, hasn't explained its decision in detail, only that it considered Georgia's abortion law and other laws, as per the report by AP.
State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes called the legal confusion 'life and death contradictions.' Adriana's mom said the family should have had a choice about her daughter's treatment. She said they may not have ended the pregnancy, but they still wanted the right to decide. She added, 'All women should have a choice about their body.'
Adriana as a person
Adriana was a nurse who loved her job. Her mom said the medical system that she worked in also let her down. Adriana was a caring mom to her 7-year-old son. He thinks she's just been sleeping. The family hasn't told him yet that he has a baby brother, as per the reports.
Adriana was kind, smart, caring, loved traveling, and wanted to study more. Some of her old patients even said she was a great nurse. The family is raising money online to support both children and cover hospital costs. Adriana's mom said, 'This hit us really, really hard' and asked for prayers and privacy, as per the report by 11Alive.
FAQs
Q1. Who was Adriana Smith?
She was a pregnant nurse in Georgia who became brain dead and stayed on life support until her baby was born.
Q2. Why didn't they turn off her life support?
Doctors were confused by Georgia's abortion law and thought they had to keep her on it.
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First Post
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Brain-dead Georgia woman kept alive due to abortion laws finally given funeral
Georgia's abortion legislation, known as the LIFE Act, bans the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy and was a decisive factor in keeping Adriana Smith on a ventilator read more Adriana Smith was kept alive medically despite being brain-dead as she was pregnant. Image courtesy: Facebook. Hundreds gathered at Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia on Saturday to mourn Adriana Smith, the 31-year-old Georgia nurse who was declared brain-dead in February but remained on life support so her pregnancy could continue under the state's restrictive abortion law. Smith's funeral drew nurses, relatives, friends and members of the public, many carrying white roses. The Atlanta Metropolitan Nursing Honor Guard performed a ceremony to formally relieve Smith of her nursing duties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Her mother, April Newkirk, told NBC affiliate WXIA that Smith was nine weeks pregnant when she collapsed at home. Her boyfriend had found her gasping for air and making gargling noises. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered multiple blood clots in her brain. Smith never regained consciousness. Georgia's abortion legislation, known as the LIFE Act, bans the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy and was a decisive factor in keeping Smith on a ventilator. The law allows few exceptions and does not account for the mother's mental state if she is brain-dead. Her baby boy, Chance, was born prematurely on 13 June, weighing just 1 pound, 13 ounces. Smith was removed from life support a few days after his birth. The newborn remains in a neonatal intensive care unit. 'He's expected to be OK,' Newkirk said earlier this month. 'He's just fighting.' Smith is survived by her infant son and an older child, Chase. Her younger sister, Naya, said she hopes to carry forward Adriana's legacy. 'I'm thankful for everything that she's taught me— her love, her kindness, her wisdom,' she said during the funeral. 'Family meant everything to her. So I hope that I can follow in her footsteps.'
Indian Express
26-06-2025
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Brain dead US woman kept alive for child birth taken off life support. Newborn weighs under a kilo
The case of a brain dead woman from Georgia, US, whose premature baby recently delivered through C-section, has hit global headlines and not just for the rarity of her case but due to a debate over abortion rights and medical ethics in the country. Adriana Smith's mother April Newkirk told local news outlet 11Alive that her daughter's baby, Chance, was delivered on June 13. However, she added that while she is happy that the child was born, the decision to allow Smith be kept on life support should have been left to the family. Newkirk said, 'We didn't have a choice or a say about it.' Smith was removed from life support on June 17. Chance, alarmingly, weighs under a kilo and remains in the neonatal intensive care unit according to multiple reports. 'He's expected to be OK,' Newkirk was quoted by 11Alive as saying. 'He's just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him. He's here now.' A nurse herself, Smith's condition began in February, when she visited a hospital with what she believed was a severe headache. After being discharged with medication, the 31-year-old expecting mother had to be rushed to a different hospital the next day gasping for air. The doctors at Emory University Hospital discovered blood clots in her brain, and within hours, she was declared brain dead. The issue gained national attention and sparked outrage when Smith's family revealed that doctors informed them about Georgia's six-week abortion ban, which includes foetal personhood language, required Smith to be kept alive to support the pregnancy. Before Chance's birth, Newkirk had said, 'We want the baby. That's a part of my daughter. But the decision should have been left to us – not the state.' Her family is now planning her funeral. Newkirk said physicians told her they were legally obligated to keep Smith on life support, although the hospital declined to comment on specific details due to privacy regulations. In a statement to AP, the hospital said it relies on 'uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia's abortion laws and all other applicable laws. Our top priorities continue to be the safety and wellbeing of the patients we serve.' Critics argue such laws risk elevating foetal rights above those of the person carrying the pregnancy. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office later clarified that the state's abortion ban does not mandate medical staff to keep brain-dead pregnant women on life support. 'Removing life support is not an action with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy,' said Carr's spokesperson, Kara Murray in a statement cited by The Guardian. Newkirk reflected on the tragedy and said, 'I'm her mother,' she said. 'I shouldn't be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me.' In 2019, Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp approved a law imposing a near-total ban on abortions. However, the legislation only came into force after the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe vs Wade decision in 2022, which had previously ensured a constitutional right to abortion for women. Georgia continues to lag behind in healthcare performance, consistently ranking among the lowest in the nation. WalletHub's 2024 report on the Best & Worst States for Health Care places the state near the bottom in terms of both quality and access. Even among residents with employer-sponsored insurance — which covers over half the state's population — affordability remains a major concern. A recent Curative Insurance Company survey revealed that 41% of working adults in the Atlanta metro area have postponed medical care due to cost, while 50% admitted to not filling prescriptions despite having insurance. These delays often result in more severe health issues and increased long-term expenses.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
Adriana Smith, brain-dead Georgian mother who gave birth to a son, to be taken off life support
Adriana Smith, a brain dead woman who gave birth to her son, would be removed from life support soon. Adriana Smith was a nurse from metro Atlanta. She was declared brain dead on Feb 19, when she was 8 weeks pregnant, reports said. The cause of death was blood clots in her brain after she had a bad headache and went to the hospital. The hospital sent her home, and within hours, she became unresponsive. Her family says the doctors later told them she had suffered blood clots and was brain dead. Birth of baby Chance On June 13 at 4:41 AM, Adriana's baby boy was born via emergency C-section. The baby's name is Chance and he was born prematurely. He was born very small, just 1 pound 13 ounces, and is now in the NICU. The family says he's still fighting but should be okay, as per the report by 11Alive. Adriana has been on life support for almost 4 months. The hospital plans to remove life support on Tuesday, as confirmed by her mom. Her mom said it's really hard to accept and she wishes she had more time with her. The family celebrated Adriana's 31st birthday recently. People across the country noticed Adriana's case because of Georgia's abortion law (House Bill 481 / LIFE Act). The law stops most abortions after a heartbeat is found but doesn't say what to do if the mom is brain dead. Doctors told the family they had to keep Adriana on life support because of the law, as per the report by 11Alive. Live Events But in May, the Georgia Attorney General's Office clarified that nothing in the law forces hospitals to keep brain-dead pregnant women on machines. Emory Healthcare, where she was treated, hasn't explained its decision in detail, only that it considered Georgia's abortion law and other laws, as per the report by AP. State Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes called the legal confusion 'life and death contradictions.' Adriana's mom said the family should have had a choice about her daughter's treatment. She said they may not have ended the pregnancy, but they still wanted the right to decide. She added, 'All women should have a choice about their body.' Adriana as a person Adriana was a nurse who loved her job. Her mom said the medical system that she worked in also let her down. Adriana was a caring mom to her 7-year-old son. He thinks she's just been sleeping. The family hasn't told him yet that he has a baby brother, as per the reports. Adriana was kind, smart, caring, loved traveling, and wanted to study more. Some of her old patients even said she was a great nurse. The family is raising money online to support both children and cover hospital costs. Adriana's mom said, 'This hit us really, really hard' and asked for prayers and privacy, as per the report by 11Alive. FAQs Q1. Who was Adriana Smith? She was a pregnant nurse in Georgia who became brain dead and stayed on life support until her baby was born. Q2. Why didn't they turn off her life support? Doctors were confused by Georgia's abortion law and thought they had to keep her on it.
