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I would like to add another view to this issue.

I am familiar with a baby born one month early (during which her mother died), and the baby’s brain was deprived of oxygen (HIE), resulting in severe brain damage.
The doctors told the baby’s father that “there is no brain activity”. They further hinted that the baby’s IV (food and water) should be pulled. This was never considered by the father or the family. Whatever chance that baby had, she was going to get that chance.

The baby is now 2 and half years old. She can not sit up, crawl, see, use her arms or hands (she can move her legs reciprocally - "running"). She cannot speak. The father has put his career on hold, and has dedicated virtually 100% of his time and effort to caring for the baby (he gets breaks by his mother and other family members).

The rest of her body seems to be perfect, and her basic relexes and autonomous system seem to be OK (breathing, circulation, eating, etc). However, she still eats from a bottle plus some baby food. Apparently, the baby can hear perfectly. She acknowledges a few words. She communicates by degrees of laughter. Her laughter (it is silent) ranges from humor – happiness – joy – glee –ecstasy.
Because of the fathers’ intense “therapy” and the use of several therapists, and the help of family members, the baby IS learning.

She responds to a few words. Her main form of communication is through the degree of her laugh. Although she is very joyful, and she laughs most of the time, her laugh is silent. Her father can get her to make a few word-sounds. Through the efforts of him (mainly) and therapists (some), she is learning to laugh out loud.

Although she cannot sit up (she has no sense of balance), when she is held in a sitting position, she now can hold her trunk rigid and her head up for more than a minute at a time. She loves music and she has favorite songs.
She is very slowly learning a few other simple things.

She gives all who know or meet her much joy. And she shows pride when she learns or repeats a new skill (such as “sitting”). Her value (besides being a person) is the joy she spreads and the skills that she pridefully accomplishes. She contributes and knowingly accomplishes – two things that make her life “worthwhile”.

Just think what she’ll be able to do after 13 years of therapy and love!

These reasons and other reasons are why we did not kill my granddaughter.