A pregnant woman in Georgia has been declared brain dead following a medical emergency, and doctors have kept her on life support for three months to allow the baby to be born in compliance with Georgia’s anti-abortion law. The woman, Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old mother and nurse, was declared brain dead in February after experiencing intense headaches and subsequently being diagnosed with blood clots in her brain. She is currently 21 weeks pregnant, and removing life-saving devices would likely result in the death of the fetus.

The case highlights the consequences of abortion bans that have been introduced in some states following the overturning of national abortion rights by the US supreme court in 2022. Georgia’s abortion law, which prohibits abortion after cardiac activity can be detected in the fetus (around six weeks into pregnancy), is being upheld in this situation.

Smith’s family is grappling with the difficult circumstances, including concerns about the fetus’s health, as doctors have informed them of potential complications such as fluid on the brain. The family is still visiting Smith in the hospital, where doctors have advised that they are not allowed to stop or remove the life-sustaining devices due to state laws.

Monica Simpson, the executive director of SisterSong, a plaintiff challenging Georgia’s abortion law, has criticized the situation, emphasizing the family’s right to make medical decisions and expressing the challenges they face in this prolonged and traumatic ordeal. The family continues to navigate this complex situation with uncertainties about the future health and well-being of both the mother and the unborn child.