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 Georgias law that restricts abortion once cardiac activity is detected doesnt allow relatives to have a say in whether a pregnant woman is kept on life support.
Georgias 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.
Newkirk said her daughter had intense headaches more than three months ago and went to Atlanta's Northside Hospital, where she received medication and was released. The next morning, her boyfriend woke 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.
Newkirk said Smith is now 21 weeks pregnant. Removing breathing tubes and other life-saving devices would likely kill the fetus.
Northside did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Emory Healthcare said it could not comment on an individual case because of privacy rules, but released a statement saying it uses consensus from clinical experts, medical literature, and legal guidance to support our providers as they make individualized treatment recommendations in compliance with Georgias abortion laws and all other applicable laws. Our top priorities continue to be the safety and wellbeing of the patients we serve.
This is reprehensible.
This is reprehensible.This just sums it up.
Don't worry, as soon as the baby is born republicans will be standing by ready to not give it free lunches, affordable childcare, or safety from gun violence in school.They will be counting the days until it gets to 14 so they can ship it off to the factories.
"For the children!!!"
Just so everyone knows, she's currently in this position because she had blood clots in her brain that they refused to operate on because she was pregnant. The brain death was caused by a series of strokes from the clots that could have been removed.saving the life of the mother should always be priority
She could have been alive and well.
What Frankensteins Monster kinda wickedness is this? And in my home state no less?!Same state as me and Im really not surprised at all unfortunately
A logistical question I have (as obviously this is reprehensible and evil to do) is who will have to pay the medical bills for this? I dont see insurance covering it if she had it, and if I was a spouse in this situation and received bills for her being kept alive by machines to deliver a baby because thats what the law requires, I would promptly throw all such bills into the trash where they belong. Does the state pay for this? Likely not since they dont want to provide any assistance to the baby once it is born.I talked to my mom about what would happen if I got hurt since I dont make money
A logistical question I have (as obviously this is reprehensible and evil to do) is who will have to pay the medical bills for this? I dont see insurance covering it if she had it, and if I was a spouse in this situation and received bills for her being kept alive by machines to deliver a baby because thats what the law requires, I would promptly throw all such bills into the trash where they belong. Does the state pay for this? Likely not since they dont want to provide any assistance to the baby once it is born.
saving the life of the mother should always be priority
I wont lie abortion does make me uncomfortable (I only mention this because it seems rare to have someone who dislikes it but supports it) but it can save lives. There are many children out there who could be adopted by the one who has a life saving abortion.
Legally she is an adult and is responsible for her own bills. They will probably try to bill the family but like you said they don't have to pay.In a better world it could at least be done before the fetus has a heart or brain for cases that dont need an abortion when actual birth is near. I think most people would be comfortable with that, even some pro life people may agree with it eventually
I think the idea that "nobody likes or wants an abortion but get them because of a need or unexpected changes in circumstances" is a vastly held opinion by most people who aren't "pro life"
I wont lie abortion does make me uncomfortable (I only mention this because it seems rare to have someone who dislikes it but supports it) but it can save lives. There are many children out there who could be adopted by the one who has a life saving abortion.Honestly, this is the mainstream pro choice stance. Abortion really should be a last resort because contraception and safe sex is easier, safer and more accessible. However, there are situations where abortion really is the only option and it should remain an option.
They will be counting the days until it gets to 14 so they can ship it off to the factories.
They will be counting the days until it gets to 14 so they can ship it off to the factories.Or 12, so they can marry them.
This isn't even a situation where the baby is almost full term and the family wants to not have the baby die.Which you know is something liberals were saying could happen and were told they were just fear mongering.
She was only 9 weeks. Georgia is literally just making her an incubator.
This isn't even a situation where the baby is almost full term and the family wants to not have the baby die.
She was only 9 weeks. Georgia is literally just making her an incubator.
thanks for the added info...Who posted post #4 and what was said?
edit: at post 4
Just so everyone knows, she's currently in this position because she had blood clots in her brain that they refused to operate on because she was pregnant. The brain death was caused by a series of strokes from the clots that could have been removed.This was already horrifying but this made it so much worse.
She could have been alive and well.
Who posted post #4 and what was said?it was Tyranthraxus, and this was their post:
Just so everyone knows, she's currently in this position because she had blood clots in her brain that they refused to operate on because she was pregnant. The brain death was caused by a series of strokes from the clots that could have been removed.
She could have been alive and well.