[sinkspur]

The article is light on details, but this doesn't look like a Schiavo type case to me.

It's not. There is a ventilator involved here, not just a feeding tube.

[Protagoras]

I agree, that is the main difference.

[8mmMauser]

So that makes it ok for the staff to snuff the kid, right. You remember I am a Catholic, too, a traditional at that. Aren't you supposed to be a deacon or somthing?

The Pope who died just after Terri thought snuffing people like that was bad. Don't you?

[Scotswife]

"It's not. There is a ventilator involved here, not just a feeding tube."

Christopher Reeve also had a ventilator. Stephen Hawkings has a ventilator.

What the Church teaches is that if death is imminent - then extraordinary means need not be used to extend life.

There is not enough information in the story to tell us if this boy is terminal or not.

If the mother is right, and he did respond to her, it is possible he could recover - but how will anyone know if the ventilator is pulled too soon?

There's an awful lot of people who want to pull these ventilators because they're thinking of the monetary cost.
It is possible that in the rush to say "it is hopeless" some patients may be denied the one thing that could have saved them....precious time.