Brain-Dead Pregnant Woman Forced To Carry Foetus To Birth Due To Abortion Ban In US
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The woman is currently 21 weeks pregnant, and removing breathing tubes and other life-saving devices would likely kill the foetus.
A 30-year-old pregnant woman in Georgia, Adriana Smith, has been on life support for over three months after a medical emergency led to her being declared brain dead. Smith's mother, April Newkirk, said that her daughter was declared brain dead in February after a medical emergency, and doctors have told the family that they are not allowed to remove life support due to the state's strict anti-abortion law.
According to the 'heartbeat law," once the cardiac activity is detected, which is generally around six weeks into pregnancy, abortion cannot be performed. Newkirk said her daughter is currently 21 weeks pregnant, and removing breathing tubes and other life-saving devices would likely kill the foetus.
'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 said, expressing concern about the potential outcome for her grandchild.
The situation highlights the complexities surrounding Georgia's abortion laws, particularly the requirement to prioritise foetal life. Supporters argue that unborn children deserve protection, with some interpreting this to mean preserving foetal life even when the mother is declared brain dead.
Georgia state Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican who sponsored the 2019 law, said he supports Emory's interpretation, stating, 'I think it is completely appropriate that the hospital do what they can to save the life of the child."
Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong, a national activist organisation dedicated to reproductive justice for women of colour, criticised the situation, saying the family should have had the autonomy to make medical decisions for Adriana. 'Her family deserved the right to have decision-making power about her medical decisions. Instead, they have endured over 90 days of retraumatisation, expensive medical costs, and the cruelty of being unable to resolve and move toward healing."
The law has faced criticism for its potential consequences, particularly in light of two tragic cases where women, Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, died due to complications from abortion medication, highlighting concerns about restricted access to timely medical care.
Democrat Kamala Harris spoke out about the issue, saying that the deaths were the result of the abortion bans that went into effect in Georgia and elsewhere after the Dobbs decision.
First Published:
May 16, 2025, 22:22 IST
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