This entry is part of the series Women's Health in Crisis
Women's Health in Crisis

Lawmakers want to protect medical rights for pregnant women after Adriana Smith’s case exposed gaps in Georgia’s laws.

⚖️ Why It Matters: Georgia’s current abortion laws don’t clearly address what happens when a pregnant patient is declared brain-dead, leaving families in legal limbo during already devastating situations.

🏛️ What’s Happening: State Rep. Park Cannon presented a Georgia House Resolution at Smith’s funeral, calling for new legislation.

  • The proposed “Adriana’s Law” would ensure individuals maintain control over their medical decisions even during pregnancy.
  • Advocacy groups including SisterSong, Amplify Georgia, and Georgia NOW are supporting the legislative push.

🔍 Between the Lines: Georgia’s LIFE Act bans most abortions after six weeks but creates confusion in medical emergencies.

  • The Georgia Attorney General’s Office has stated the law doesn’t require life support continuation in brain-death cases, but advocates say clearer protections are needed.

Catch Up Quick: Smith, a 31-year-old nurse, was declared brain-dead in February while eight weeks pregnant. Doctors kept her on life support for four months until her baby, Chance, was delivered by emergency C-section in June.

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Before You Dismiss This Article…

We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.

When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.

The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.

Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.

Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.