Adriana Smith and pregnancy after brain death
How do most states handle these situations? How should they?
If you want room to reflect and sit with complexity, this is for you.
Join us.
Sharpen your communication skills for conversations that actually go somewhere.
(Can’t make it live? No problem—everyone who registers will get a replay link afterward.)
The one-hour livestream begins
Thursday, May 22
7:30p CT/8:30p ET
Last week multiple SPL followers messaged us asking for clarification on the story of Adriana Smith, a mother declared brain dead when she was 9 weeks pregnant. A Georgia hospital has been keeping her on life support and her son is now about 22 weeks gestation. Doctors are hoping to get him to 32 weeks. Smith's mother reports that doctors told the family they have no legal say in this situation because of Georgia's heartbeat law. We wrote about the case in detail here.
During the livestream, we'll think through:
Law
Most states have laws limiting decision-making when the incapacitated patient is pregnant. Only one state specifies they'll cover associated medical costs.
Ethics
What are the major factors to consider in cases like these? How do different people weigh different factors?
Rhetoric
How do pro-choicers and pro-lifers describe this situation differently? What are some unspoken assumptions each side makes?
Your Presenters:
Monica Snyder
Executive Director, Secular Pro-Life
Monica Snyder is a pro-life atheist with a STEM background (BS in chemical biology from UC Berkeley, MS in forensic science from UC Davis). She takes a particular interest in how abortion is discussed in academic circles and loves breaking down data to make sense of complex issues.
Herb Geraghty
CCO, Secular Pro-Life
Herb Geraghty is a pro-life atheist with an activist background, speaking at events from college campuses to the Supreme Court, and engaging in peaceful civil disobedience. Herb has had countless conversations about abortion with people from a wide range of perspectives.