I understand what you’re saying, and you make a fair point. But if I understand correctly, your family made that decision not to be connected to machines for themselves, not the government.
My nephew (ten years old) has lung cancer, and I don’t want Obamacare bureaucrats making a cost-benefit decision about his life. My sister has taken a leave of absence to nurse him back to health, at a financial cost, of course, to her family.
Each life is precious, no matter how young, or how old.
I know that many would not be able to do what we did, but if more of us were determined to do so and had help making it work, it would save many millions of health care costs that the taxpayers otherwise might have to share. I believe that something like half or more of all medical costs are incurred in the last 6 months of life. It is hard for some to accept that when the stage of multiple organ failures is reached, that the dying person might be happier in their own home and bed, and not being wakened up at all hours poked, prodded and pricked time and again. In the year before my mother died she would phone me from the hospital at 3 am crying “I am sooo huuungry!” After she came to stay with me I would keep a little box next to her at night with snacks and a sippy cup of water and she was much happier.
I hope your nephew recovers. Encourage your sister to learn all she can about therapeutic nutrition, as this may help his recovery. If he is on chemo, and has nausea, then Pantothenic Acid, 200 to 250 mg. per day may help.