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Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Can an unborn baby survive if the mother is brain dead? The science behind such critical cases explained
A recent case from Georgia has drawn attention to a complex medical and ethical issue: a brain-dead pregnant woman being maintained on life support so her unborn child can reach viability. Adriana Smith, 30, was nine weeks pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital with severe headaches. Unfortunately, no tests were conducted initially, and by the following morning, she became unresponsive. A subsequent CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in her brain, leading doctors to declare her brain dead, reported 11 Alive. Due to Georgia's Heartbeat Bill, which prohibits abortion after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo—usually around six weeks—Adriana is being kept on life support until the baby can be delivered. Adriana's mother, April Newkirk, expressed profound heartbreak over the situation. She described her daughter as "breathing, but unresponsive" and voiced her concerns about the unborn child's health, fearing he "may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he's born." This case has reignited debate on what science can achieve, legal constraints, and the outcomes for babies born under such extraordinary circumstances. Medical History and Precedents Cases involving brain-dead pregnant women maintained on life support are rare but not unheard of. A study published in the International Journal of Critical Illness & Injury Science reviewed 30 such cases between 1982 and 2010. Out of these, only 12 infants survived the neonatal period, indicating the complexity and risks involved. Previously, medical decisions largely depended on the fetus's gestational age when brain death was declared. However, advances in critical care now allow for sustaining maternal bodily functions regardless of pregnancy stage, making gestational age less of a limiting factor in decision-making. One notable success was documented in the journal Cureus, describing a 31-year-old woman declared brain dead at 22 weeks pregnant. After 11 weeks of life support, a cesarean section at 33 weeks resulted in the birth of a healthy infant. Similarly, the American Journal of Case Reports described a brain-dead woman at 16 weeks gestation kept on life support for 117 days, with the child showing good health outcomes one year after birth. A systematic review in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology further highlighted that with proper medical care, most infants born under such conditions had favorable outcomes. Challenges in Maintaining Pregnancy and Fetal Health The key factor influencing infant survival is the gestational age at the time of the mother's brain death. Survival rates improve significantly with later gestational ages—approximately 20–30% at 24 weeks, 80% at 28 weeks, and nearly 98% at 32 weeks. Sustaining a brain-dead mother on life support comes with major challenges. Complications like infections, hormonal imbalances, and cardiovascular instability can threaten both maternal somatic functions and fetal development. The mother's body may struggle to maintain sufficient blood pressure and oxygen supply, which can cause fetal hypoxia and ischemia, potentially leading to long-term neurological damage. Nutritional support for the fetus is another concern, as a brain-dead mother might not properly digest or absorb nutrients, complicating efforts to sustain the pregnancy. Additionally, the inability to sustain the pregnancy full-term often results in premature birth, raising the risk of complications for the infant. While medical advances have made it possible to maintain brain-dead pregnant women on life support to allow fetal development, the situation remains fraught with medical, ethical, and legal challenges.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Can a brain-dead woman give birth? What happens to the baby? What science says
The recent case of a brain-dead woman in Georgia who has been kept alive on life support for the last three months, not for her own survival, but to allow her unborn baby to reach viability, has stirred online debates. Adriana Smith, 30, was nine weeks pregnant when she visited a hospital after suffering from intense headaches. However, no tests were performed and the next morning, she turned unresponsive as her condition deteriorated. A CT scan performed later revealed several blood clots in her brain, reported 11Alive. Declared brain dead, Adriana would be receiving life support, till she gives birth, due to Georgia's Heartbeat Bill that bans abortion once embryonic cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks gestation. Her mother April Newkirk doesn't have a choice legally and is heartbroken to see her daughter 'breathing', but unresponsive. She fears for her unborn grandson's survival and is concerned about his health. 'She's pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he's born,' she told 11Alive. Adriana's case has sparked questions about what science knows, what the law dictates, and what happens to babies born under such extraordinary circumstances. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo While rare, cases like these have occurred before, and the outcomes, both medical and emotional, are far from simple. Brain death during pregnancy There have been past cases where families and doctors faced a choice between discontinuing life support or continuing full medical intervention to keep a brain-dead woman alive in hopes of allowing the fetus to reach maturity. According to a study published in International Journal of Critical Illness & Injury Science, 30 cases between 1982 and 2010 of brain dead pregnant women have been reported where the body functions were maintained to allow the baby to develop in the womb. However, only 12 viable infants were born and survived the neonatal period, as per the study . Based on earlier reports, doctors used to consider the fetus's age a key factor when deciding whether to keep a brain-dead woman on life support. But with advances in life-support technology and critical care, it's now possible to maintain the mother's vital functions regardless of how far along the pregnancy is, making gestational age less of a deciding factor. A success story This case detailed in journal Cureus involves a 31-year-old woman who was 22 weeks pregnant when she was declared brain-dead due to intracranial and subarachnoid hemorrhage. A multidisciplinary medical team carefully evaluated the situation and decided to continue somatic support — keeping her body functioning — to allow the baby to grow until it was developed enough to survive outside the womb. After 11 weeks of life support, at 33 weeks of pregnancy, a cesarean section was performed. The result: the successful birth of a live infant. A case reported in the American Journal of Case Reports describes a brain-dead woman at 16 weeks gestation who was maintained on life support for 117 days, resulting in the birth of a healthy child with good one-year outcomes. Similarly, a systematic review in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzed multiple cases and found that with appropriate medical management, the majority of infants born under such circumstances had favorable outcomes. What happens to the baby The gestational age at which the mother becomes brain-dead is a critical factor. The survival rates of infants increase with gestational age: approximately 20–30% at 24 weeks, 80% at 28 weeks, and 98% at 32 weeks. However, maintaining somatic support in brain-dead pregnant women presents significant challenges. Complications such as infections, hormonal imbalances, and cardiovascular instability can arise, potentially affecting fetal development. There could be problem maintaining adequate blood pressure and oxygen levels which can lead to fetal hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and ischemia (reduced blood flow). This may cause long-term neurological damage. The child may not receive adequate nutrition as a brain dead mother may not be able to digest and absorb nutrients. The mother's body may not be able to sustain a pregnancy for the full term due to the complications associated with brain death. This can result in premature delivery, raising risk of complications. Miami woman gives birth to quadruplets One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
What is the Georgia abortion law? How it forced doctors to keep a brain-dead woman alive
In a rare and heartbreaking case, a brain-dead woman in Atlanta is being kept alive by the doctors, all because she could give birth, to comply with Georgia's strict abortion laws. Around 90 days have passed since Adriana Smith , a 30-year-old mother and registered nurse, has been declared brain dead but she's being kept on life support to keep her baby alive, reported 11Alive. The reason: a state abortion ban that leaves doctors legally compelled to maintain her pregnancy until the fetus reaches viability. For April Newkirk, Smith's mother, this is a sheer torture as she sees her daughter breathing, but 'not there'. Even more heartbreaking is to see her grandson believe his mother is 'just sleeping'. It all started in early February when Smith experienced severe headaches at around nine weeks of her pregnancy. Despite her symptoms, hospital staff failed to perform crucial tests such as a CT scan, missing early warning signs of a catastrophic event. 'They gave her some medication, but they didn't do any tests. No CT scan,' Smith's mother, April Newkirk, told 11Alive. 'If they had done that or kept her overnight, they would have caught it. It could have been prevented.' The next morning, Newkirk told 11Alive, Smith's boyfriend found her gasping for air in her sleep, making gurgling noises. When she was rushed to the hospital, a CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in her brain. By the time doctors decided to go into surgery, it was too late, and Smith was declared brain dead. Under ordinary circumstances, the family might have been able to consider ending life support. But Georgia's Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, a law prohibiting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, except in narrowly defined medical emergencies, forced doctors to continue life support until the fetus is viable. What is Georgia's Heartbeat Bill ? Georgia's Heartbeat Bill, passed in 2019 and enforced since July 2022 after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, bans abortion once embryonic cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks gestation. In many cases by this time women don't even realise they are pregnant. The law allows exceptions only in cases of medical emergency or fatal fetal abnormalities, but definitions are tight and open to interpretation. Why doctors were forced to maintain Adriana's pregnancy In Adriana's case, doctors have told the family they must maintain life support because, technically, as she is brain dead, she is no longer considered 'at risk,' removing the medical emergency exemption. This legal gray area has left the family and medical team in limbo. Risk to unborn child's safety Newskirk is now concerned about her unborn grandson's health and in many cases children born to brain-dead mothers don't survive. According to National Institutes of Health, between 1982 and 2010, 30 cases of brain-dead pregnant women maintained on life support were reported, resulting in only 12 viable infants who survived the neonatal period. Children born to mothers who are brain dead can face several health risks, including those related to prematurity, potential complications from maternal complications like infection, and potential long-term neurological issues. 'She's pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he's born,' she told the outlet. 'This decision should've been left to us. Now we're left wondering what kind of life he'll have — and we're going to be the ones raising him.' Georgia political shift forces GOP to look past Atlanta One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Brain-dead mother forced to carry pregnancy under Georgia's abortion ban
(Representative photo) An Atlanta woman has been kept on life support for over three months, despite being declared brain dead, due to strict abortion laws in the state of Georgia. Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old nurse and mother, was nine weeks pregnant when she suffered severe headaches in February and visited a hospital for help. According to her mother, April Newkirk, staff gave her medication but failed to conduct crucial scans, including a CT scan, which might have detected the blood clots later found in her brain. The following morning, Smith's boyfriend found her unresponsive and struggling to breathe. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered extensive brain damage caused by multiple clots. Though surgery was considered, it was already too late. Smith was pronounced brain dead shortly afterwards. Yet, because of Georgia's abortion ban, doctors have been legally required to keep Smith alive to allow the foetus to reach viability. The law, known as the LIFE Act or 'Heartbeat Bill' bans abortions once a foetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks. While exceptions exist for medical emergencies, Smith's condition reportedly falls into a legal grey area. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo As she is already brain dead, doctors argue she is no longer considered at risk, and the pregnancy must be maintained until at least 32 weeks. Her mother describes the experience as a living nightmare. 'It's torture for me. I see my daughter breathing through machines, but she's not there,' Newkirk said. 'And her son—he thinks she's just sleeping.' The family now faces the heartbreaking possibility that the baby, if born, could face severe health issues. Newkirk stressed that the most painful part is not having the choice. 'This decision should've been left to us. We might not have ended the pregnancy, but not having the option is the hardest part.' Smith is currently 21 weeks pregnant, with doctors hoping to sustain her body for another 11 weeks. (This is a top Google Trends topic)
Newsweek
14-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Abortion Law Forces Doctors to Keep Pregnant Brain Dead Woman Alive
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A pregnant woman has been kept on life support for over three months in order to deliver her child due to the abortion laws in her home state of Georgia. Why It Matters Georgia's Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, also known as the "Heartbeat Bill," was passed by state lawmakers mostly on party lines in 2019 and signed by Governor Brian Kemp, in most instances banning abortions after six weeks. It officially went into effect in July 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which led to similar laws passed in other states nationwide amid a backlash from pro-abortion advocates. What To Know Adriana Smith, 30, a mother and registered nurse from Atlanta, was almost nine weeks pregnant in early February when it was discovered that she had blood clots in her brain, according to WXIA-TV in Atlanta. Around that time, Smith reportedly began experiencing intense headaches. After attempting to seek treatment at a local hospital, she was soon released and provided medication. According to her mother, April Newkirk, Smith sought treatment at Northside Hospital but was released after being given medication. "They gave her some medication, but they didn't do any tests. No CT scan," April Newkirk, Smith's mother, told 11Alive. "If they had done that or kept her overnight, they would have caught it. It could have been prevented." People watch from a bridge as protestors march and chant in Downtown Atlanta, in opposition to Georgia's new abortion law on July 23, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. People watch from a bridge as protestors march and chant in Downtown Atlanta, in opposition to Georgia's new abortion law on July 23, 2022 in Atlanta, then gasped for air in her sleep the following morning, to what her boyfriend compared to gargling noises. He called 911 and medical personnel took her to Emory Decatur prior to transferring her to Emory University Hospital—the latter of where she worked as a nurse. "They asked me if I would agree to a procedure to relieve the pressure, and I said yes," Newkirk said. "Then they called me back and said they couldn't do it." Smith was declared brain dead and, as of today, has been hooked to life-saving machines for more than 90 days. While she was moved to Emory Midtown due to their being known for obstetric care, Smith's family questions the politics of the matter. Doctors are supposedly waiting until the fetus is at 32 weeks gestation, which is months from now, as Smith is currently 21 weeks pregnant. Doctors have reportedly told her family that under Georgia's heartbeat law, they are legally required to maintain life support until the fetus reaches viability. No other legal issues to circumnavigate the law can be sought, either. Newsweek reached out to Emory Healthcare officials for comment. Newkirk told WXIA-TV that the decision has caused trauma for their family—both in terms of Smith's condition and the baby's health. Doctors have her that the baby, a male, has an unknown amount of fluid on the brain. "She's pregnant with my grandson," Newkirk said. "But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he's born." "This decision should've been left to us. Now we're left wondering what kind of life he'll have—and we're going to be the ones raising him." What People Are Saying Governor Brian Kemp after signing the law in 2019: "We will not back down. We will always continue to fight for life." Kwajelyn Jackson, executive director of Feminist Women's Health Center, in 2024 after the Georgia Supreme Court ruling: "This ban has wreaked havoc on Georgians' lives, and our patients deserve better. The state of Georgia has chosen to subject our community to those devastating harms once again, even in light of the deadly consequences we have already witnessed." What Happens Next Last year, Georgia's Supreme Court reinstated the state's six-week abortion ban by halting a ruling from a trial court judge that struck down the law. In February of this year, the Georgia Supreme Court vacated that lower court's ruling, which could force challengers to the state's abortion law to potentially start over in their legal battle.
