A pregnant Georgia woman was declared brain dead in February according to her mother. According to the story, this means she is legally dead in the eyes of the law in Georgia. The hospital is keeping the deceased on life support indtending to bring the fetus to term which would be about 6 months past the time of death of the mother. The family has not been given a say in this matter, though it is not made clear how the family wishes to proceed.
Hospital tells family brain-dead Georgia woman must carry fetus to birth because of abortion ban
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A spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement to CBS News on Friday, "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,'" the spokesperson said, quoting part of the law.
Gov. Brian Kemp's office declined to comment on Smith's case and referred CBS News to the statement from the attorney general's spokesperson.
She knew something was wrong and sought help.
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Loved ones say the ordeal began on Feb. 9, when Adriana Smith complained of persistent headaches. She reportedly sought help at two different hospitals, but according to her family, she was given medication with "no tests ran or proper examination."
Just days later, on a Sunday morning, Adriana was found unresponsive. Doctors determined she was brain dead. However, because Adriana was in the early stages of pregnancy—just two months along at the time—Georgia's fetal heartbeat law requires she remain on life support.
Unequal access to care for Black women
The Associated Press has not been able to reach Smith’s mother, April Newkirk. But Newkirk told Atlanta TV station WXIA that her daughter went to a hospital complaining of headaches and was given medication and released. Then, her boyfriend awoke to her gasping for air and called 911. Emory University Hospital determined she had blood clots in her brain and she was declared brain dead.
It’s not clear what Smith said when she went to the hospital or whether the care she was given was standard for her symptoms. But Black women often complain their pain isn’t taken seriously, and an Associated Press investigation found that health outcomes for Black women are worse because of circumstances linked to racism and unequal access to care.
Reportedly it was Northside Hospital that turned her away (with medicine) when Adriana Smith sought treatment. She was a registered nurse at Emory.
