The Cruelty of Control: Adriana Smith and the Weaponization of Black Bodies in America

By Gemma Ortwerth

Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old Black woman, was declared brain-dead in February 2025 after suffering a catastrophic medical emergency. Despite her legal death, Emory University Hospital in Georgia has kept her body on life support for over three months, citing the state’s anti-abortion law that grants personhood to fetuses. The hospital plans to maintain this state until the fetus reaches viability, intending to deliver it via cesarean section .

This situation is not an isolated incident but rather a manifestation of systemic issues deeply rooted in American society.

Systemic Racism in Maternal Healthcare

Black women in the United States face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality. Data indicates that Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women . These disparities are not solely due to biological factors but are significantly influenced by systemic racism, implicit bias, and unequal access to quality healthcare .

The case of Adriana Smith exemplifies how these systemic issues can lead to dehumanizing outcomes. By keeping her body functioning solely to gestate a fetus, the state effectively reduces her to a vessel, disregarding her personhood and autonomy.

Legal and Ethical Implications

Georgia’s “heartbeat law,” enacted in 2019, prohibits abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. This law grants legal personhood to fetuses, creating complex legal scenarios, especially in cases like Adriana Smith’s .

Legal experts argue that continuing life support for a brain-dead individual is not legally required, even under Georgia’s stringent abortion laws. Bioethicists emphasize that such actions violate medical ethics and the rights of the deceased .

Historical Context of Medical Exploitation

The exploitation of Black bodies in American medical history is well-documented. From the non-consensual experiments conducted on enslaved women by J. Marion Sims to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Black individuals have been subjected to unethical medical practices .

Adriana Smith’s case is a contemporary reflection of this historical pattern, where Black women’s bodies are controlled and utilized without regard for their autonomy or humanity.

Broader Implications for Bodily Autonomy

The implications of this case extend beyond Adriana Smith. It raises concerns about bodily autonomy and the extent of state control over individuals’ bodies, particularly those of marginalized communities.

If the state can mandate the use of a deceased person’s body to gestate a fetus, it sets a dangerous precedent for the erosion of individual rights and autonomy.

Conclusion

Adriana Smith’s situation is a stark reminder of the intersection of systemic racism, restrictive reproductive laws, and the devaluation of Black women’s lives. It underscores the urgent need for policy reforms that prioritize bodily autonomy, ethical medical practices, and the dismantling of systemic racism in healthcare.

References

AP News. “Hospital tells family brain-dead Georgia woman must carry fetus to birth because of abortion ban.” 

The Guardian. “Fetus of brain-dead Georgia woman kept alive due to abortion ban is growing, says family.” 

National Institutes of Health. “Addressing Black Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States.” 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality.” 

Kaiser Family Foundation. “Five Facts About Black Women’s Experiences in Health Care.” 

Department of Labor Blog. “For Black Women, Implicit Racial Bias in Medicine May Have Far-Reaching Effects.” 

American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. “Should a Patient Who Is Pregnant and Brain Dead Receive Life Support Despite Objection from Her Appointed Surrogate?” 

Teen Vogue. “The Roots of Racism in Health Care.” 

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Solving the Black Maternal Health Crisis.” 

Journal of Ethics, American Medical Association. “Cultivating Critical Love to Improve Black Maternal Health Outcomes.” 

Note: This article is intended to shed light on systemic issues affecting Black women’s healthcare and does not constitute medical or legal advice.