Image reproduced from 經濟日報

In Atlanta, Georgia, a 30-year-old nursing assistant named Adriana was announced brain dead at eight weeks pregnant, but due to stringent anti-abortion laws, medical teams had to keep her on life support until the baby was born. This incident has raised significant concerns about such legislation and its implications for maternal rights and healthcare ethics.

Adriana checked into the hospital in early February after experiencing severe headaches, where scans revealed multiple blood clots in her brain. Despite surgical attempts to alleviate her condition, she fell into a state of brain death post-operation. At the time, she was carrying a baby that was only eight weeks old, and regulations prevented the medical team from terminating the pregnancy, pushing them to extend her life artificially for the sake of the unborn child.

The medical team finally performed an emergency C-section on June 13, and at approximately 4:41 AM, they successfully delivered a baby boy weighing about 1 pound 13 ounces, three months prematurely. The medical team had initially intended to delay the delivery to August to increase the chances of the baby's survival. Now, the newborn is under observation in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The family has decided to name the child "Chance," symbolizing a second chance at life. However, they are deeply concerned about the baby's future health and well-being, worrying that he may face blindness, mobility issues, or even a struggle for survival. They express their frustration at the lack of choice regarding whether to proceed with the pregnancy. "We don’t know what kind of life he will have, and we have to raise him while facing increasing medical bills that grow with each passing day," they lamented.

In 2019, Georgia passed the "Living Infant Fairness and Equality Act" (Heartbeat Bill), which prohibits medical personnel from performing abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. This law came into effect three years later, with limited exceptions such as medical emergencies, sexual assault, or incest. However, the Georgia Attorney General's office stated that the Heartbeat Bill does not obligate medical professionals to maintain life support for women declared brain dead, and removing life support is not considered an act of terminating a pregnancy.

The controversy surrounding anti-abortion laws across the nation has intensified, and this case significantly highlights the conflicts between legal stipulations and medical ethics. Many are calling for a re-evaluation of such laws, advocating for greater autonomy in reproductive health decisions for families.