A recent medical crisis in Georgia has stirred public outcry, deep ethical questions, and renewed confusion over one of the country’s most controversial laws. When 22-year-old Adriana Smith was declared brain-dead in March, she was 13 weeks pregnant. Her doctors at Emory Healthcare chose to continue life support, citing Georgia’s abortion law — a decision her family says went against her wishes.

This complex and heartbreaking case is now prompting many to ask: Is this abortion? Who decides? And should the law have the final word when real life gets messy?