Adriana Smith, a Georgia mother who was kept on life support during her pregnancy after being declared brain dead, will be laid to rest following a public viewing and funeral service. According to THV11, the viewing is scheduled for Friday from 10 a.m. to noon at Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia, with the funeral service to follow from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Smith was declared brain dead in February due to blood clots while two months pregnant. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that she was removed from life support on Tuesday last week. Her son was delivered prematurely on June 13, weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces, and remains in the NICU.
Her case drew national attention due to questions surrounding Georgia’s LIFE Act, the state’s abortion law. Smith's family believes the law influenced medical decisions to keep her on life support. The law does not explicitly address cases involving brain death.
Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, said Smith initially went to the hospital with a severe headache but did not receive a CT scan. Lawmakers, including Congresswoman Nikema Williams, have since introduced a resolution calling for policy changes to clarify the rights of pregnant individuals and the application of abortion laws in medical settings. A press release cited by FOX 5 Atlanta notes that the resolution also urges the repeal of abortion bans and clearer legal definitions for fetal personhood.
Georgia’s Attorney General has stated that the LIFE Act does not require life support in these cases, though the absence of specific guidance has raised concerns.
Smith is survived by her newborn son, Chance, and a 7-year-old child.
