The case of a brain-dead woman in Georgia has reignited debates over the intersection of abortion laws and healthcare decisions, following her recent funeral.
At a Glance
- Adriana Smith, a Georgia nurse who was declared brain dead in February while pregnant, was kept on life support for four months.
- Her son, Chance, was delivered via C-section on June 13; Smith was removed from life support on June 17, and her funeral was held on June 28.
- The situation stemmed from confusion and fear among hospital staff and family over Georgia’s restrictive abortion law.
- In response, a state lawmaker has proposed “Adrianna’s Law” to affirm patient autonomy and prevent similar tragedies.
A Tragic Four-Month Wait
Adriana Smith, a nurse and mother from the Atlanta area, was laid to rest on Saturday, June 28, 2025, after a tragic and legally fraught four-month ordeal. In February, while eight to nine weeks pregnant, Smith suffered a medical emergency and was declared brain dead. However, she was kept on life support to sustain her pregnancy.
On June 13, her son, Chance, was delivered via an emergency C-section at approximately 26 weeks, weighing just 1 pound, 13 ounces. He remains in a neonatal intensive care unit. His mother was removed from life support four days later.
A Climate of Legal Fear
The agonizing decision to keep Smith on life support stemmed from the legal confusion created by Georgia’s restrictive “LIFE Act,” which bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The law created a climate of fear and uncertainty for the hospital and her family, who were unsure if withdrawing life support from the pregnant, brain-dead woman would violate the law.
The Georgia Attorney General’s office later clarified that the law does not require a brain-dead patient to be kept on life support. This indicates the tragic situation was not caused by a direct legal mandate, but rather by the chilling effect and lack of clarity created by the state’s stringent abortion laws.
A Push for “Adrianna’s Law”
The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for legislative reform. At Smith’s funeral, which was attended by hundreds of friends, family, and community members, State Representative Park Cannon (D-Atlanta) announced that she will introduce a bill to prevent this from happening again.
“We believe autonomy should be upheld in Georgia by enacting Adrianna’s Law,” Cannon said, according to local news station WRDW. The proposed law would “affirm that individuals would maintain agency over their bodies and medical decisions even under restrictive fetal personhood regimes.”
As the community mourns, Smith’s family and friends remember her as a loving and kind person. An online fundraiser to support her two sons, baby Chance and his older brother Chase, has raised over $435,000. “I’m thankful for everything that she’s taught me—her love, her kindness, her wisdom,” her sister, Naya, told Firstpost.
