On the other hand, perhaps you've had a parent in a long-term hospice, wasting away -- or worse: become insane, mean and crude -- and got convinced that pulling the feeding tube was true compassion.
No two situations are the same. hastening the day and time by hours or a day is quite different than initiating death. Yes, it is out of love and compassion in most cases.
Terry's situation is again unique. It compares more directly with a brain death case yet is in the gray in between. Again, their is no hope, and the lack of a living will is what was litigated again and again.
In each case, the simple determination was that she would have signed a restricted DNR that would prohibit long term artificial aid to maintain only a marginal, if that, existence.
Again, their is a compassionate angle.
What I find fascinating here on these threads, (you must excuse my love of analogy) is a one way thought process that is much like a human sphincter. It is eager to let things out, but when confronted with the prospect of letting something in, it seizes up tight, blocking any attempt at entry.
This is not entirely normal behavior, because you can never separate the fact from the fiction unless you see clearly in both directions.
Brings to mind a 70's musical quote: "Free your mind and your ass will follow."