Adriana Smith: Georgia Woman Declared Brain Dead Remains on Life Support Due to Pregnancy, Family Claims

Tragic Circumstances in GeorgiaRecent events involving Adriana Smith have shocked the community.

Doctors have declared Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old woman from Georgia, brain dead for several months. Her family says she remains on life support because she is pregnant. This heartbreaking situation raises critical questions about Georgia’s heartbeat law and the family’s exclusion from her medical decisions.

Ignored Health Issues

Adriana, a registered nurse at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, began experiencing severe headaches while about nine weeks pregnant in February. Her mother, April Newkirk, reported that Adriana sought medical attention at Northside Hospital. However, doctors discharged her after giving medication without conducting any diagnostic tests. “They gave her some medication, but they didn’t do any tests or CT scans. If they had, they would have caught it,” Newkirk explained.

Deterioration of Condition

The next morning, Adriana’s boyfriend noticed alarming symptoms. “She was gasping for air in her sleep, gargling. More than likely, it was blood,” Newkirk recalled. Adriana went to the hospital where she worked, and a CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in her brain. Unfortunately, doctors could do nothing to save her, and they declared her brain dead shortly thereafter.

Family’s Frustration with Legal Restrictions

Now, over 90 days later, Adriana’s family, including her young son, remains by her side as she stays on life support. They express frustration over their lack of involvement in her care due to Georgia’s heartbeat law. This law prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. “It’s torture for me. I come here, and I see my daughter breathing on a ventilator, but she’s not there,” Newkirk said.

Uncertain Future for the Baby

At 21 weeks gestation, the health of Adriana’s unborn child is uncertain. Recently, doctors transferred her to Emory Midtown, a facility better equipped for obstetric care. They plan to keep her alive until they believe the baby can survive outside the womb, likely at 32 weeks. Newkirk voiced her concerns about potential health complications for the baby, stating, “She’s pregnant with my grandson, but my grandson may be blind, may not be able to walk, or be wheelchair-bound. We don’t know if he’ll live once she has him.”

Legal Ambiguities and Family Rights

In this case, Georgia’s heartbeat law has created a complex legal situation. The law allows limited exceptions, such as for rape, incest, or if the mother’s life is in danger. However, since Adriana is brain dead and no longer considered at risk, her medical team must maintain life support until the fetus reaches viability. The family claims that doctors informed them they cannot explore other options.

Advocating for Change

Newkirk believes that every woman should have the right to make her own medical decisions, or at least allow her partner or family to make those choices. “I’m not saying we would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy, but we should have had a choice,” she emphasized.

She hopes to raise awareness about the emotional toll of Georgia’s law and the impact of being stripped of medical decision-making during such a critical time. In many other states, the decision would typically defer to the mother’s wishes or those of her next of kin, especially in cases where the mother’s condition complicates the pregnancy.

Conclusion: The Human Cost of Legislation

This tragic situation underscores the complex intersection of medical ethics, family rights, and state laws. As Adriana Smith’s family navigates this difficult journey, they advocate for the importance of personal choice in medical decisions, particularly in life-altering circumstances.