Keeping brain-dead pregnant women on life support raises ethical issues that go beyond abortion politics
Briefly

Adriana Smith was declared brain-dead while pregnant and remained on life support for 16 weeks to sustain her fetus. Her premature son, Chance, was delivered via cesarean section at 25 weeks. The family opposed the decision to keep Smith on life support, emphasizing their lack of consent, as the hospital cited Georgia's LIFE Act, which restricts abortion. Smith's case has sparked controversy regarding women's autonomy and has challenged existing abortion laws, highlighting the ethical complexities of postmortem pregnancies.
Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old from Georgia, was declared brain-dead in February 2025 while pregnant, resulting in a heated discussion about her care and legal issues surrounding abortion laws.
Smith's mother criticized the decision to keep her on life support, citing the Georgia LIFE Act, which complicates ethical considerations regarding fetal personhood and abortion.
Read at The Conversation
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