"He had no prospect of life off the ventilator"
"Neither did that Superman guy"
True, but Christopher Reeve's family chose to care for him, and to pay for his extraordinary life support. Being allowed to care for your own loved ones is something altogether different from requiring that others care for them. Shiavo's parents are asking only to be allowed to care for their daughter, and to pay for her care. This woman was asking that the hospital care for her disabled infant on life-support for free, indefinitely. It's not the same thing.
< "He had no prospect of life off the ventilator"
"Neither did that Superman guy"
True, but Christopher Reeve's family chose to care for him, and to pay for his extraordinary life support. >
Christopher Reeve was breathing on his own for years. He could't have spoken if he was always on the ventilator. He went through much rehab to learn how to speak.