A Mother’s Anguish: Georgia’s Abortion Law and a Family’s Unthinkable choice
atlanta – May 7, 2024 –
A family in Atlanta is grappling with an unimaginable reality following a tragic event that involves Georgia’s abortion law.In early February,Adriana Smith,a pregnant nurse,suffered a medical event that led to her being declared brain-dead. The crux of the issue stems from Georgia’s “heartbeat Bill,” legally mandating life support for the fetus and creating a complex situation for the family. It is indeed a case that could have wider implications, so read on.
A Mother’s Anguish: Georgia’s Abortion Law and a Family’s Unthinkable Choice
The Initial crisis
In early February, Adriana Smith, a nurse nine weeks pregnant, experienced a severe headache. Fearing blood clots, she sought emergency care but was discharged with medication and without undergoing any scans. The following morning,still deeply fatigued,Smith was found unresponsive,prompting a friend to call for an ambulance.
Prolonged Life Support and Legal Obligations
Smith was declared brain-dead at the hospital, yet she has remained on life support for over 90 days. Treating physicians cite legal obligations to maintain life support until the fetus reaches viability. Currently 21 weeks pregnant, doctors aim to sustain her until at least 32 weeks.
Georgia’s “heartbeat Bill”
The situation is further complex by Georgia’s Living Infants Fairness and Equality (Life) Act, enacted in 2019 and also known as the “Heartbeat Bill.” This law prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around the sixth week of pregnancy. The law took effect in July 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn roe v. Wade.
A Mother’s Trauma and Concerns for the Future
April Newkirk, Smith’s mother, shared her family’s profound distress with Wxia-TV in Atlanta. She described the hospital’s decision as deeply traumatic, stating that she is not only grieving the impending loss of her daughter but also grappling with concerns about the baby’s health. Doctors have informed her that the fetus has brain fluid.
She is pregnant with my grandson, but maybe he is blind, maybe he will never be able to walk, maybe he will not live long.
April Newkirk, Wxia-TV
Preventable Tragedy?
Newkirk believes the situation could have been avoided. If they had done a CT scan or kept her in observation, they would have seen that she had blood clots.
She also expressed frustration that her daughter was transferred to another hospital without the family’s input.
Financial and emotional Burden
The family is unable to contest the decision and faces mounting medical expenses.Newkirk emphasized the emotional and financial strain:
That decision should have been left to us. We will raise him, we wonder what life he will have. Every day that passes, brings more costs, more sadness, and more questions.
April Newkirk
