Adriana Smith: The female body is not a machine

Adriana Smith is a 30-year-old nurse and a mother who was declared brain-dead in February, 9 weeks pregnant with her second child. Despite the fact that she is brain-dead and that she can no longer decide what she wants to do with her body, her organs are being kept active inside her body for the sole purpose of keeping the fetus alive. The Emory University Hospital is claiming that they must do this because of the laws in place regarding abortion in Georgia — specifically, the laws stating that women may not have abortions after cardiac activity can be detected in the fetus. Smith’s family was not given a choice in this matter — their voices regarding the usage of Smith’s body were not heard, despite the fact that they are the people who will have to raise the child once it is born.

(WXIA)

To add on, the future of the child is uncertain. According to the doctors at the hospital, there is already excess fluid surrounding the child’s brain. According to Smith’s mother, it is possible that the child may be unable to see or walk after birth, if it survives. This entire process has been extremely costly and anxiety-inducing for Smith’s family.

Adriana Smith is essentially being used as an incubator, and what is happening to her is a gross and unacceptable violation of her human rights and her dignity. The hospital is treating her like an object, blatantly dehumanizing and disrespecting her. For the hospital to disregard the life Smith lived and to rob her of the ability to make a crucial choice regarding her body and her health is invasive, irresponsible, and completely unjustified. When will we stop treating women’s bodies as tools? It is time to enact change. We, as a society, need to come together and create a safer world for women to live in, where their bodies, minds, and hearts are respected. Share Adriana Smith’s story. Words and actions can have great impact, and it is crucial that people are informed of this massive injustice against women and humankind as a whole.