Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Unflip

1 2 ··· 5 6 7 8 9 10

Original poster

Woman declared legally dead is being kept alive due to state’s abortion laws

236 replies

Youstolemygoddamnhouse · 17/05/2025 18:02

Anyone see this story?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/15/pregnant-georgia-woman-brain-dead-abortion-law

TLTR
US women is being kept alive on life support due to abortion laws. Woman was 9 weeks pregnant when she became brain dead. Family have no say in the matter and do not want this. The foetus if it survives may have life long health conditions and suffer from brain damage. Family are also having to pay for medical fees occurred and also for future birth fees.

I am being unreasonable to say WTF. Where is the outcry about this? This actually happened in an episode of The Handmaid’s tale.

YABU - this is the law, law needs to be upheld even after death
YANBU - WTF. Women are not safe even after death.

Pregnant US woman declared brain dead is being kept alive under state abortion law

Doctors are keeping Adriana Smith on life support months after medical emergency until baby is ready, family says

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/15/pregnant-georgia-woman-brain-dead-abortion-law

OP posts:

ColinOfficeTrolley · 17/05/2025 18:17

It's absolutely horrific, ghoulish and down to fucking men.

MamaLenny · 17/05/2025 18:17

I could understand at 9 months pregnant but 9 weeks?? Crazy.

Viviennemary · 17/05/2025 18:15

This is a case where nature should be allowed to take its course. I don't agree with euthanasia but I certainly don't agree with keeping people alive who are either brain dead or dying.

Snorlaxo · 17/05/2025 18:14

I saw this on social media and couldn’t believe it.

If the foetus is a life then the family should be able to take out life insurance.

Lovelysummerdays · 17/05/2025 18:13

I think that’s awful tbh. So after the trauma of losing someone you love 7 months later you have to face the possibility of having a profoundly disabled child who may not survive plus an enormous medical bill. Her poor child and parents as well.

I feel like the state should bear the cost if it’s insisting on keeping a brain dead woman alive.

Espressosummer · 17/05/2025 18:13

Lamelie · 17/05/2025 18:07

I’m weakly anti abortion but that is horrific. Poor woman, poor woman’s family.

This is an obvious consequence of anti abortion rhetoric and legislation. Perhaps you shouldn't be in favour of denying women health care, dignity and respect.

Mylegishangingoff · 17/05/2025 18:12

Youstolemygoddamnhouse · 17/05/2025 18:07

Yes I saw a comment about it somewhere. From 2014? That the family had to go to court? What was the outcome as it didn’t say.

Show quote history

The life support was turned off and if I remember correctly the family got a payout of over a million euro some years later. This was one of the many sad stories that helped repeal the 8th in the end. It's part of the reason why I get so angry when I see women on here celebrating or voting for people who are anti abortion 'because they know what a woman is'. Unless you have lived through strict abortion laws you have no idea the wide reaching effects are on women. It's terrifying living under these laws, knowing that the minute you become pregnant you lose all say in what happens to your body.

MyUmberSeal · 17/05/2025 18:08

There is actually nothing pro life about this story, it’s sick and so fucking regressive. Mother should be allowed to pass away. It’s absurd.