what happened to adriana smith atlanta

Adriana Smith was a 30-year-old nurse from Atlanta, Georgia, who was declared brain-dead in February 2025 after suffering a catastrophic stroke caused by multiple blood clots in her brain while she was about 9 weeks pregnant. Despite her brain death, she was kept on life support for over four months at Emory University Hospital due to Georgia's stringent abortion law (the LIFE Act), which prohibits abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected (around six weeks of pregnancy). The law effectively required keeping her body on life support to sustain the fetus until the baby was viable. Her family was reportedly not consulted or given the choice regarding the continuation of life support. The fetus, named Chance, was born prematurely via emergency cesarean section on June 13, 2025, weighing just 1 pound and 13 ounces. Adriana Smith was taken off life support four days later, on June 17. The baby was placed in neonatal intensive care and was reported to be fighting for survival. The case ignited national and international debates on medical ethics, abortion laws, fetal personhood, and patient consent, highlighting the impacts of Georgia's anti-abortion legislation on end-of-life care. Adriana Smith's memorial service was attended by many, including community members and her fellow nurses, celebrating her life and legacy.