In a heartbreaking and controversial case, the family of Adrian Smith, a 30-year-old woman declared brain-dead, says they were denied the right to take her off life support because she was pregnant—due to Georgia’s strict abortion laws.

Smith was nine weeks pregnant when she was admitted to a Georgia hospital in early February after suffering from severe headaches. Doctors soon discovered multiple blood clots in her brain. Despite emergency surgery to relieve the pressure, Adrian never regained consciousness and was later declared brain-dead.

State Law Overrides Family’s Wishes

Under Georgia’s Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, which prohibits abortion once fetal cardiac activity is detected, the hospital informed the family that it could not legally withdraw life support as long as the fetus had a detectable heartbeat.

The hospital’s decision means Smith will be kept on machines until her baby can be delivered, a process that could take months, depending on the viability of the pregnancy.

Family Left Devastated, Powerless, and Financially Burdened

Smith’s mother, now facing the burden of potentially raising a child born under traumatic and uncertain medical circumstances, expressed deep sorrow and frustration:

“She’s pregnant with my grandson. But he may be blind, may not be able to walk, may not survive once he’s born,” she told local outlet WXIA.

“This decision should’ve been left to us. Now we’re left wondering what kind of life he’ll have—and we’re going to be the ones raising him.”

She also voiced concern about the mounting hospital bills, adding, “Every day that goes by, it’s more cost, more trauma, more questions.”

State Leaders Praise the Law, Critics Call for Reform

The situation has stirred sharp reactions. While some state lawmakers praised the hospital’s adherence to the LIFE Act, others argue that families in these tragic, complex cases should be given more autonomy.

One Georgia senator, who championed the LIFE Act, said:

“I’m thankful for the hospital recognizing the full value of this small human life that’s living inside this tragically dying young mother.”

But to Smith’s loved ones, that sentiment offers little comfort as they grapple with grief, uncertainty, and escalating medical costs.