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Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Who is Adriana Smith? Georgia's brain dead woman gives birth amid abortion law controversy, ‘He's just fighting'
Adriana Smith, a woman from Georgia who was compelled to bear a child, gave birth after months of being brain dead. She is now anticipated to be taken off life support. According to her family, the baby was delivered on Friday. Smith's mother, April Newkirk, informed Atlanta's NBC station WXIA that the baby, Chance, was delivered via emergency cesarean section due to preterm birth. According to her, the infant is in the neonatal intensive care unit and weighs around one pound, thirteen ounces. 'He's expected to be OK,' she informed the broadcaster. 'He's just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him.' Smith is also a mother to an elder son. In a previous interview, she told WXIA that the LIFE Act, the state's nearly complete restriction on abortion, forced the family to keep Smith alive. The Smith's family, who celebrated her 31st birthday on Sunday, stated that she was sent to the hospital in February after first seeking treatment for excruciating headaches. Also Read: Tyler Perry reacts to Derek Dixon's bombshell $260mn lawsuit allegations; Here's what he said In 2019, Governor Brian Kemp signed the 'Heartbeat Bill,' also known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, after it was passed by state lawmakers primarily along party lines. It generally outlawed abortions after six weeks. After the US Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in July 2022, it formally entered into force. In response to a reaction from pro-abortion activists, similar laws were enacted in other states around the country. According to Newkirk, Smith was first admitted to Northside Hospital but was later discharged after receiving treatment. However, the hospital performed no tests or scans. Smith's boyfriend saw her gasping for air and making gargling noises when he woke up the day after she sought treatment, Newkirk told WXIA. A CT scan revealed many blood clots in Smith's brain after she was taken to Emory Decatur Hospital and then moved to Emory University Hospital, according to the station. Newkirk informed that her daughter was put on a ventilator after being deemed brain dead. Smith will be removed from life support on Tuesday, she said. 'It's kind of hard, you know,' she said to the station. 'It's hard to process.'
Newsweek
17-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Brain Dead Woman's Baby Delivered After Abortion Law Forced Her Kept 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 Georgia woman who was forced to carry a child for months while brain dead gave birth to the baby. She's now expected to be removed from life support. 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, gave birth in the early morning hours of June 13 to a baby boy named Chance, according to local NBC affiliate WXIA-TV in Atlanta. Chance was born prematurely by an emergency Cesarean section and, according to Smith's mother, April Newkirk, weighs about 1 pound, 13 ounces and is currently in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). "He's expected to be OK," Newkirk told WXIA. "He's just fighting. We just want prayers for him. Just keep praying for him. He's here now." People hold signs during a protest against passed abortion ban bills at the Georgia State Capitol building, on May 21, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. People hold signs during a protest against passed abortion ban bills at the Georgia State Capitol building, on May 21, 2019 in Atlanta, multiple medical episodes in February, Smith—who was about nine weeks pregnant at the time—was ultimately diagnosed with blood clots. She spent roughly 120 days being hooked to machines to stay alive so she could deliver the child, per state law and until the fetus reaches viability. She is located at Emory Midtown. On Tuesday, Smith is expected to be taken off life support, according to her mother. "It's kind of hard, you know," Newkirk said. "It's hard to process. ... I'm her mother. I shouldn't be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me." Doctors were initially reported to be waiting until the fetus was at about 32 weeks' gestation. Smith was roughly 21 weeks pregnant in mid-May. In May, an Emory Healthcare spokesperson provided the following statement to Newsweek: "Emory Healthcare uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgia's abortion laws and all other applicable laws. Our top priorities continue to be the safety and wellbeing of the patients we serve." Newsweek reached out to the hospital via email for updates. What People Are Saying Kara Murray, spokesperson for the Georgia Attorney General's Office, in a statement about state law and Smith's situation: "There is nothing in the LIFE Act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death. Removing life support is not an action with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy." Newkirk to WXIA-TV: "I'm not saying we would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy. But I'm saying we should have had a choice. ... I think all women should have a choice about their body. And I think I want people to know that." What Happens Next Smith also has a 7-year-old son who reportedly believes his mother has been asleep for the past few months. Newkirk said the family will eventually share the news with him about his new brother and his mom's condition.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Georgia abortion law: Brain-dead woman gives birth in US; life support continued due to strict legal rules
This is a representative AI image (TIL Denny) In a rare case, a brain-dead woman in Georgia gave birth to a premature baby boy through a C-section while being kept on life support, her family said. Doctors kept the mother, Adriana Smith, on life support in line with the US state of Georgia's abortion laws. The baby, named Chance, was born on Friday and is currently being cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit. He weighed 1lb 13oz (0.8kg) at birth, the woman's mother, April Newkirk told local TV station 11 Alive. "He's expected to be OK," Smith's mother told the outlet. "He's just fighting. We just want prayers for him," she added. Newkirk said her daughter, would be taken off life support on Tuesday (local time). "It's hard to process," she said. "I'm her mother. I shouldn't be burying my daughter. My daughter should be burying me," she added. Earlier in February, Adriana Smith, a 31-year-old nurse visited a hospital with severe headaches but was given medication and sent home, according to Newkirk. "They gave her some medication, but they didn't do any tests. No CT scan," Newkirk told 11Alive in May. "If they had done that or kept her overnight, they would have caught it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's The Price for a 1-Day Walk-in Shower In 2025 Homebuddy Learn More Undo It could have been prevented," she added. The next day, Smith woke up gasping for air. She was rushed to Emory University Hospital, where doctors found blood clots in her brain and declared her brain-dead. At the time, Smith was over three months away from her due date. However, her family said doctors told them they could not take her off life support or remove the breathing equipment due to Georgia's strict abortion law, which bans termination once fetal cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks into pregnancy. Newkirk said her grandson may face serious health issues including possible blindness and difficulty walking or survival challenges due to her daughter's health complications, BBC reported. She had earlier also expressed frustration that the decision to continue life support wasn't left to the family. "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," she had earlier said. What is Georgia's Heartbeat Bill? Georgia's Heartbeat Bill, passed in 2019 and enforced since July 2022 bans abortion once embryonic cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks gestation. The legislation became effective after the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which had previously guaranteed women's constitutional right to abortion.
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
