His blood won't pump through his veins without the aid of an electronic device. A respirator breathes for him 24 hours a day. Dan cannot breathe on his own. He cannot survive without someone to care for him every minute of the day. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
Life is still life at all levels.
I have been called a bigot for my conservative views, for my desire to live the laws of nature. I have been called a Gestapo because of my wish for people to be considerate of others. How society treats the helpless and the dependent is a supreme test of humanity. I can think of at least two past national leaders who called certain people less than human - and subsequently executed them. A mother has a sacred responsibility to care for the living being growing inside her body.