The case of a Georgia woman declared brain dead but being kept on life support because she is pregnant is raising complicated legal questions about restrictive abortion laws in Georgia and other states.

Georgia's "heartbeat law" ​is among the restrictive abortion statutes that have been put in place in many conservative states.

Adriana Smith was declared brain-dead in February. The law in Georgia requires the woman to be on life support until the foetus has developed enough to be delivered.