Georgia woman remains on life support to save fetus despite being brain dead

In February 2025, Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old nurse from Georgia, was declared brain dead after suffering from multiple blood clots in her brain. She was eight weeks pregnant at the time. Due to Georgia's strict abortion laws, which allow terminations only in specific circumstances, medical professionals kept Smith on life support to support the growth of her fetus. The family's expectations were further complicated as they were informed that the decision was influenced by state law rather than medical necessity. On June 13, 2025, Adriana gave birth to a baby boy named Chance, who weighed 1 pound and 13 ounces and was placed in a neonatal intensive care unit for further observation and support. Smith's mother, April Newkirk, expressed her concerns regarding the ethical implications of this situation, highlighting the trauma the family experienced amidst the legal complexities surrounding reproductive rights in Georgia. Newkirk stated that although they desired to keep the baby, they should have been granted the choice to decide about Smith's life support. The case garnered national attention and raised critical discussions regarding medical ethics, the legal status of pregnant patients, and the implications of abortion laws on medical care. Furthermore, some legal experts argued that the hospital's interpretation of the law may not align with medical practice standards, as the law does not actually mandate keeping a brain-dead patient on life support. The family voiced their struggles and financial worries while advocating for a clarification of the legal framework surrounding such cases.