4 hours ago
Last Updated:June 26, 2025, 23:44 IST
The Black woman, a 30-year-old nurse identified as Adriana Smith, was kept alive due to local abortion restrictions in the US state of Georgia
The case captivated nationwide attention since it has come at a time when access to abortion has radically changed since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to terminate a pregnancy in June 2022. (Image for representation)
A brain-dead pregnant Black woman, who was kept alive due to local abortion restrictions in the US state of Georgia, was removed from life support after she gave birth to a boy.
According to officials, the woman, identified as Adriana Smith, gave birth prematurely to a boy who weighs not more than 1 kg. The baby has been named Chance was born on June 13 via emergency C-section and is presently at the NICU, they said.
Smith, who was removed from life support on June 17, captivated nationwide attention since her case has come at a time when access to abortion has radically changed since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to terminate a pregnancy in June 2022.
“On Friday, June 13, 2025, her infant son, named Chance, was born prematurely at approximately 4:41 am via emergency Cesarean section," three Democratic congresswomen said in a statement. “Chance weighs about 1 pound, 13 ounces and is currently in the NICU."
‘WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A CHOICE’
Smith was a registered 30-year-old nurse suffering serious headaches in February when she was nine weeks pregnant. An initial hospital visit ended with only a prescription for medication.
The next morning, she was taken to the hospital where she worked. Doctors found multiple blood clots in her brain, and she was declared brain dead.
Georgia law bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy — one of the country’s so-called ‘heartbeat’ laws, referring to the approximate first detection of a foetal heartbeat.
As she was nine weeks along, doctors were hesitant to do anything that could contravene the law, as per her mother April Newkirk. “This decision should’ve been left to us," she told local NBC broadcaster WXIA-TV in mid-May. “I’m not saying that we would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy, what I’m saying is: we should have had a choice."
WHAT IS THE LAW?
In June 2022, the conservative-leaning Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 case that established federal protections for abortion access.
Since then, more than 20 out of 50 states, including Georgia, have imposed strict limits on abortions, or even outright bans.
The three congresswomen — Nikema Williams, Ayanna Pressley and Sara Jacobs — are pushing for better protections of the rights of pregnant women, “particularly Black women, who are disproportionately impacted by systemic medical neglect and restrictive anti-abortion laws".
“The lack of a formal legal opinion or prosecutorial guidance leaves families and doctors in limbo," said the lawmakers, who have presented a congressional resolution on the issue.
(With agency inputs)
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP)The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Brain-Dead Pregnant Woman Removed From Life Support After Giving Birth, Baby Weighs 1 Kg
