What to know about brain-dead Georgia woman reportedly being kept on life support because she's pregnant
For example, writer and activist Jessica Valenti posted a video discussing the situation on her X account (archived):
https://x.com/JessicaValenti/status/1922759344875028690
"If you have the capacity for pregnancy, you are not a person to them," Valenti said in the video. "You are a vessel, you are an incubator, but you are most certainly not a human being, because you don't treat human beings like this."
The post had reached 168,100 views and 1,800 likes as of this writing. The claim further spread on X, where one post garnered 2.8 million views (archived), on TikTok and on Reddit. Further, Snopes readers searched the site seeking to confirm the veracity of the rumor.
Indeed, Snopes was able to determine that several reputable news sources had reported on the story, including The Associated Press, NBC News and local NBC affiliate 11Alive-WXIA. Snopes attempted to contact April Newkirk, the woman in question's mother and the source of the details reported in those outlets, to confirm the story, and we will update this article should she respond.
According to these reports, Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old nurse and mother of one, was nine weeks pregnant when she died in February. She went to Northside Hospital seeking treatment following "intense headaches," Newkirk told WXIA. Newkirk said the doctors there did not do tests and sent her home with medication. The next day, her boyfriend called 911 after he noticed her struggling to breathe, and Smith was admitted to Emory University Hospital, where she worked. There, doctors identified blood clots in her brain on a CT scan and declared her brain-dead, which constitutes legal death in all 50 states.
However, due to Georgia's ban on abortion, effective from the moment a fetus' heartbeat is detectable, doctors reportedly told Smith's family they would not turn off the machines that are keeping her body functionally alive. Indeed, a fetus' heartbeat is generally detectable at six weeks of pregnancy.
Smith was 21 weeks pregnant the week of May 12, 2025, according to her mother. Doctors hoped to take the pregnancy to 32 weeks to increase the fetus' chances of survival. She was moved to Emory Decatur Hospital, which had better obstetric care. We have reached out to the hospital for more details and will update the story should we receive an answer.
However, Newkirk said the doctors told her the fetus, which is male, had fluid around its brain, though it was not clear how much, and that they were concerned about its health. Further, the financial cost of Smith's long-term hospital stay was also a concern for her family.
Alcorn, Cody. "Family Says Woman Declared Brain Dead but Her Pregnancy Continues under State Law." 11Alive.com, WXIA, 13 May 2025, www.11alive.com/article/news/local/family-claims-atlanta-nurse-declared-brain-dead-kept-alive-pregnancy/85-eac5257d-a329-4dd7-b80f-5c0ecd30225a. Accessed 16 May 2025.
Amy, Jeff, et al. "Georgia's Anti-Abortion Law Keeps Brain-Dead Pregnant Woman Adriana Smith on Life Support." AP News, 15 May 2025, apnews.com/article/pregnant-woman-brain-dead-abortion-ban-georgia-a85a5906e5b2c4889525f2300c441745. Accessed 16 May 2025.
Burke, Minyvonne. "Georgia Mother Says She Is Being Forced to Keep Brain-Dead Pregnant Daughter Alive under Abortion Ban Law." NBC News, 15 May 2025, www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-forced-keep-brain-dead-pregnant-woman-alive-rcna207002. Accessed 16 May 2025.
"House Bill 481." Ga.gov, 2019, www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20192020/187013. Accessed 16 May 2025.
"Maternity Center | Emory Decatur Hospital." Https://Www.emoryhealthcare.org/Centers-Programs/Maternity-Center/Maternity-Center-Decatur, 2025, www.emoryhealthcare.org/centers-programs/maternity-center. Accessed 16 May 2025.
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On the other end of the spectrum (and in defence of flat whites the world over), coffee has its own great antioxidants that are linked to reduced risks of conditions like Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes, Salman shares. "Ultimately, whether matcha or coffee is better comes down to your personal caffeine tolerance, which effects you want, and your taste preferences." Just a final FYI, how you prep your matcha can make a huge difference to the taste and intensity of it, shares Salman. "Using more powder or hotter water will increase the caffeine content and change the flavour." If you're new to the matcha scene, she advises starting small – and keeping in mind that if you're mixing in syrups, sweeteners or certain milks, the calorie count can jump up pretty easily. Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC's Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women's Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
