My brother was like that for about two months with Gillian Barre...but he recovered. It counts...sometimes being kept going is a temporary thing to get over a critical illness that will run its course, and then you will get better. If being trached was because of the flu, or a pneumonia, this is can be a good choice. If this is because of something that is not recoverable, such as a person who has Lou Gehrig's, now that is a different question.
I agree that there are times to be kept artificially alive. I am not sure that being 84 and in failing health is one of them
In the old days pnemonia was called "Old Man's Friend."
This is one of those things...when you are clear of mind and choking or suffocating to death, you might decide you don't like it...I guess it's one of those bridges that have to be crossed when you get to them.
I know if I had Lou Gehrig's, I would not want to go the respirator route...but if I were clear minded but sick with the flu, and choking from it, I might give in...thinking that this would be temporary.