When discussing the child in a permanent unconscious state the choice seems clear. The President'sCommission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine states that any criteria for nontreatment must exclude consideration of the negative effects of an impaired child'slife on the family or society. Currently parents have parental autonomy. In other words, they are the child'strue proxy. Some say that it is impossible for the parent to be truly selfless and therefore act in the child'sbest interest.
Social issues are present in what appears to be a family matter.
The technology dependent child can be a tremendous burden to the family and society. Families with handicapped children have a higher rate of divorce. The financial responsibility for a family can be devastating. Medicaid funds some of the care for these children after the family's resources have been used up. Often a family member has to give up their job or decrease the hours worked to provide care.