While you certainly have the right to your opinion, your facts are not only erroneous they are irrelevant.
The cost of a feeding tube is only about $30,000 per year (and much less if the family undergoes some basic medical training) and, while some sacrifices will likely be necessary, this is well within the financial means of many families. Lauren’s care IS NOT being paid for by the state and since neither parent has indicated that finances are a concern we must presume that this is not an issue.
"The costs of caring for patients in a persistent vegetative state are difficult to estimate. The cost of hospital care for the first three months is estimated to be $149,200. The estimated cost of long-term care in a skilled nursing facility ranges from approximately $350 per day ($126,000 per year) to approximately $500 per day ($180,000 per year)124. For children in a persistent vegetative state, the estimated annual cost of care at home is $129,000 (±$51,000) for the first year and $97,000 for subsequent years..."
And this does not count the ecconomic costs of removing adult family members from the labor force to act as unpaid caregivers, which is often considerate - and not only in terms of immediate lost wages but in terms of future earnings, contributions to SS and retirement savings and the like.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1366161/posts