AP: Hospital tells family brain-dead Georgia woman must carry fetus to birth because of abortion ban

[Dennis Donovan]

AP - Hospital tells family brain-dead Georgia woman must carry fetus to birth because of abortion ban

By JEFF AMY, GEOFF MULVIHILL and SUDHIN THANAWALA
Updated 5:48 AM EDT, May 16, 2025

ATLANTA (AP) — A pregnant woman in Georgia who was declared brain dead after a medical emergency has been on life support for three months to let the fetus grow enough to be delivered, a move her family says a hospital told them was required under the state’s strict anti-abortion law.

With her due date still more than three months away, it could be one of the longest such pregnancies. Her family is upset that Georgia’s law that restricts abortion once cardiac activity is detected doesn’t allow relatives to have a say in whether a pregnant woman is kept on life support.

Georgia’s so-called “heartbeat law” is among the restrictive abortion statutes that have been put in place in many conservative states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade three years ago.

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.

/snip

[underpants]

1. Good luck kid.

Well send a recruiter by when you get near 18.
Other than that, you’re in your own.
- paraphrasing George Carlin

At least there is family involved which is good.

[Attilatheblond]

2. Dead mother is NOT an abortion

It's fucking reality. Medical institution managers making decisions for a family are WAY outta line.

[Attilatheblond]

3. Aren't there laws about abusing a corpse?

[maspaha]

4. Compassionate conservatism...

…gotta love it

[Dixiegrrrl]

5. Hope the family can pay that huge hospital bill.

Another example of well intended laws with poorly intended consequences.

[debsy]

6. How can the family be liable for bills for a 30-year old woman???

That sounds like the hospital is just trying to get someone on the hook to pay for her stay. I hope the family gets some legal advice because the hospital and/or state should assume the costs of implementing this “care”. She seems to be a single mother and not a dependent of anyone.