[SacTown Chronic]

This is not a state-sponsored execution so comparisons to the death penalty are irrelevant, imo. But I agree with you, scaeagles, it is a horrifying way to die. Put in that position, I would suffocate my child/spouse after the tube was removed.

As for the motivations of the parties involved, I don't see evil intent on either side. I believe the husband knows exactly what his wife wants. I believe the parents have hope of a recovery in their hearts (Though I do fear that Catholic dogma is playing a not so insignificant role in the parents' fight to keep their daughter alive). On a personal level, my wife's wishes would trump whatever hope, whether real or imagined, that her parents might have, and I would fight to give Crystal what she believes is the dignity, and peace, of death -- even after moving on in my personal life. I would owe her that.

And yes, you are correct, MickeyLumbo. That icky political/religious two-headed monster is putting it's fingerprints all over this tragedy. That's not to say that everone who is outraged over the removal of the tube is being driven by their beliefs, but, as with the abortion issue, the religious arm of the keep-her-alive army is in the majority.