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ATLANTA, June 18, 2025
Brain-Dead Mom’s Baby delivered After Months on Life Support
The family of Adriana Smith says her son was born prematurely after she was kept on life support for several months due to Georgia’s abortion law.
- adriana Smith was declared brain dead in february but kept on life support.
- Her son, Chance, was born prematurely on June 13 and is in the NICU.
- Smith’s mother says the situation has been “torture.”
In a heartbreaking case highlighting the complexities of reproductive rights, a baby boy has been delivered via C-section from a brain-dead mother, whose family says she was kept on life support for months due to Georgia’s LIFE Act.The family of Adriana smith, 31, says that her son Chance was born prematurely on June 13 and is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“He’s expected to be OK,” April Newkirk, Smith’s mother, told Atlanta NBC affiliate 11 Alive. “He’s just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying.He’s here now.”
Smith, a registered nurse, began experiencing health problems in February at nine weeks pregnant, including a severe headache. A CT scan at Emory University Hospital revealed blood clots in her brain, and doctors declared her brain dead by Feb.19. Her family claims that doctors said they had to keep her on life support as of Georgia’s abortion law.
WXIA
What is the LIFE Act and how dose it relate to this case?
Georgia’s LIFE Act bans abortions after cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy. In May, 11 Alive reported that the state Attorney General’s office stated the LIFE Act does not compel medical professionals to maintain life support for a brain-dead woman. However, the law has created a “legal grey area,” according to the outlet.
Newkirk expressed the pain of the situation, saying it has been “torture for me. I see my daughter breathing by the ventilator, but she’s not there.” The hospital was scheduled to take Smith off life support on June 17.
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with Smith’s hospital bills and to support her two children. “I’m her mother,” newkirk said.”I shouldn’t be burying my daughter.My daughter should be burying me.”
newkirk shared that Smith “was a ray of light” and excited to welcome a baby to join her 7-year-old son. Smith’s mother also added, “She loved to travel. She loved her family.She’s a good mom. She wanted to advance her education. She loved people.”
Smith’s mother shared her final words for her daughter, “If I could say one more thing to her, I guess I would tell her that I love her. She was a great daughter.”
Newkirk stated, “All women should have a choice about their body,”
Navigating teh Legal adn Ethical Maze: Life Support and Brain Death in Georgia
The tragic case of Adriana Smith [[1]], as detailed in the opening of this article, underscores the complex interplay between reproductive rights, medical ethics, and state law. While the immediate focus is on Ms. Smith’s heartbreaking situation and the premature birth of her son, it also shines a light on the broader implications of Georgia’s LIFE Act and the tough decisions faced by medical professionals and families alike. This situation highlights the pressing need for clarity and compassion regarding the legal and ethical considerations surrounding brain death, life support, and the rights of both the mother and the unborn child.
The central issue revolves around the legal definition of death and the circumstances under which life support can be withdrawn. Brain death, as defined by medical professionals, is the irreversible cessation of all brain functions [[1]]. This includes the brain stem. This is considered death in the eyes of the law. However, the LIFE Act, which prohibits abortions after cardiac activity is detected, adds an additional layer of complexity, notably in cases involving pregnant women.
The LIFE Act itself, as reported by 11 Alive, “does not compel medical professionals to maintain life support for a brain-dead woman” [[1]]. Though, as the article states, it has created a “legal gray area.” This ambiguity arises from the intersection of the legal definition of death, laws protecting the unborn, and the ethical obligations of medical providers to act in the patient’s best interest. The lack of definitive legal guidance can result in significant stress and uncertainty for both families and healthcare providers.
When a pregnant
