, May 17 -- year-old woman in Georgia, USA, Adriana Smith, has been on life support for the past three months after being declared brain dead - a situation complicated by the state's stringent abortion law.

Smith, who was pronounced brain dead in February following a medical crisis, remains on life support because doctors say they are legally barred from ending treatment due to her ongoing pregnancy.

Her mother, April Newkirk, said that under Georgia's restrictive "heartbeat law" - which bans abortions after cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks - removing life-sustaining care could result in the fetus's death, which the law seeks to prevent.

Currently 21 weeks into the pregnancy, Smith's fetus faces uncertain prospe...