11 Alive: Family says woman declared brain dead but her pregnancy continues under state law

[Dennis Donovan]

11 Alive - Family says woman declared brain dead but her pregnancy continues under state law

Adriana Smith's been on life support 90+ days with weeks to go in her pregnancy. Her family questions Georgia’s heartbeat law — and why they had no say in her care.

Author: Cody Alcorn
Published: 11:51 PM EDT May 13, 2025
Updated: 11:46 AM EDT May 14, 2025



ATLANTA — The family of a 30-year-old metro Atlanta mother and nurse said she was declared brain dead more than 90 days ago — but is still being kept alive because she’s pregnant.

Adriana Smith, a registered nurse at Emory University Hospital, was nearly nine weeks pregnant in early February when she started experiencing intense headaches. According to her mother, April Newkirk, Smith sought treatment at Northside Hospital but was released after being given medication.

“They gave her some medication, but they didn’t do any tests. No CT scan,” Newkirk said. “If they had done that or kept her overnight, they would have caught it. It could have been prevented.”

The next morning, Newkirk said Smith's boyfriend woke to her gasping for air in her sleep—gargling sounds he believes were caused by internal bleeding.

He called 911. Smith was taken to Emory Decatur and later transferred to Emory University Hospital where she worked. A CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in her brain.

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[likesmountains 52]

1. That is disgusting.

[Deuxcents]

2. Heart wrenching

[KT2000]

3. How utterly barbaric

She has been kept on life support and will be until delivery? What the hell is the higher moral authority that decided a dead woman should be required to continue a pregnancy? Absolutely sick.

[slightlv]

8. This is proof of the way they truly see us - as incubators, only! This is sickening. nt

[LearnedHand]

4. This is barbaric

Blazing proof that the law turns women into walking coffins (in cases where the baby has died in the womb) and now post-death human incubators. I’m beyond disgusted.

[Earl_from_PA]

5. Reminiscent of

Terri Schivo...

[BigMin28]

6. Cruel

Since the state of Georgia has taken the decision from the family, then the state should at the very least bear responsibility for the cost of her care all this time.

[LatteLady]

7. We women are all just incubators to them.

To them, she is “blessed” to bring a baby into this world, this is her (our) primary worth and function, a productive uterus. Not people in our own right, but incubators.

[erronis]

9. From The Guardian today:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/15/pregnant-georgia-woman-brain-dead-abortion-law

A pregnant woman in Georgia was declared brain dead after a medical emergency and doctors have kept her on life support for three months so far to allow enough time for the baby to be born and comply with Georgia’s strict anti-abortion law, family members say.

She could be kept in that state for months more.

The case is the latest consequence of abortion bans introduced in some states since the US supreme court in 2022 overturned national abortion rights afforded by the historic Roe v Wade ruling.

Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old mother and nurse, was declared brain dead – meaning she is legally dead – in February, her mother, April Newkirk, told Atlanta TV station WXIA.