Congress backs pregnant woman's right to refuse life support
H.Res. 522 — Recognizing that Adriana Smith and her family's prolonged ordeal without their consent is the direct result of the Black maternal health crisis, the danger of laws that give rights to fetuses and take them away from pregnant people, and anti-abortion laws that continue to harm people who can become pregnant. · Filed by Nikema Williams (D-GA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 17, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This is a House resolution expressing support for Adriana Smith, a pregnant woman declared brain dead in Georgia whose body is being kept on life support against her family's wishes due to state abortion restrictions. The resolution condemns fetal-personhood laws and state restrictions on advance directives for pregnant people, and calls on states to repeal abortion bans and clarify how such laws interact with end-of-life medical decisions.
Why we flagged it
This is a non-binding House resolution expressing the chamber's position on abortion restrictions, fetal-personhood laws, and their interaction with end-of-life medical decisions. It does not create law or appropriate funds; it is a statement of congressional sentiment tied to a specific case.
What the text implies
- The resolution's focus on advance directives and life-support decisions may signal congressional intent to challenge state laws that restrict pregnant people's end-of-life autonomy, potentially creating legal pressure on states to revise existing statutes.
- By naming Georgia's LIFE Act and highlighting the chilling effect on medical care, the resolution may encourage litigation challenging the constitutionality of fetal-personhood laws under due-process and bodily-autonomy grounds.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The resolution advocates for pregnant people's bodily autonomy, medical decision-making rights, and protection from state-mandated life support that overrides family wishes. It highlights systemic barriers to Black maternal health and calls for legal clarity that prioritizes patient autonomy over fetal rights—protections that would benefit pregnant people and their families.