In Season 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale, Natalie, a pregnant Handmaid, collapses under the weight of constant state control. She’s declared brain dead, but Gilead refuses to let go. Machines keep her body running, not for her, but for the fetus within her. Natalie is no longer a human, but rather an incubator.

At the time, it was undeniably dystopian fiction. But right now, the same thing is happening in America.

What is happening to Adriana Smith?

Adriana, a 30-year-old nurse from Atlanta, Georgia, had a deadly brain bleed in February of this year, and she was certified brain dead. However, because she was nine weeks pregnant, her body was kept on life support- not to save her, but for the sake of the fetus she was carrying.

Sound familiar?

Despite Adriana’s legal death, Northside Hospital continued life support measures, as required by Georgia’s “heartbeat law,” which prohibits abortions once fetal cardiac activity is found. This normally occurs around six weeks into the pregnancy. 

Her grieving family was told that they were not legally permitted to take her off life support. They were told that until the fetus could be delivered, the hospital had to keep Adriana on life support.

Chance, the foetus, is 22 weeks along as of May 2025, faces significant health issues, including fluid in the brain that could lead to disability or death.

Why is the ‘Heartbeat law’ in place?

The purpose of fetal personhood laws is to acknowledge embryos and fetuses as individuals with legal rights. Supporters say that this upholds moral principles and safeguards unborn life, but critics argue that legislation like this compromises the rights of mothers.

Because of the law, Adriana’s body remained in a hybrid state, meaning it was mechanically supported but not biologically viable. Her family was unable to grieve for her, bury her, or decide on her medical treatment. Legally speaking, her body belonged to a law written without her in mind.

Is this a clear parallel to a dystopian world?

Despite being a dystopian thriller, The Handmaid’s Tale is grounded in historical precedents and modern issues. Margaret Atwood, the author, has said that nothing in the book hasn’t happened at some point in history. Today, its resonance is sharper now than ever. Adriana’s story is a symptom of a larger dystopian thread quietly weaving itself into the fabric of our reality.

In Gilead, state power and religious doctrine govern women’s bodies. A secular legal system in Georgia accomplished a similar goal through legislative definitions and constitutional modifications. Adriana’s story serves as a reminder of the intricacy and repercussions of rules that aim to preserve life while disregarding the lived realities of those who are carrying it.

Why does Adriana’s Story Matter?

Adriana Smith’s situation is representative of a larger discussion over medical ethics, reproductive rights, and the increasing conflict between legal definitions of life and physical autonomy.

Stories like Adriana’s may become more common in a post-Roe v. Wade America when more states are enacting or extending fetal personhood laws. 

The Handmaid’s Tale asked, “What happens when a woman is no longer in control of her body- even in death?” Adriana Smith’s story forces us to ask the same.

Because when laws are written without empathy, and enforced without nuance, even death isn’t enough to free a woman from the control of the state.