A Boston girl, 11 years old, lies in a vegetative state, surviving only via life support. She was profoundly abused by her adoptive mother, and the woman's husband. Her mother, facing rampant criminal charges, is dead from a murder/suicide with the girl's grandmother. So now, with the entirety of the charges against him, the girl's so-called stepfather would like to have a say in her health care... as if he hasn't had enough of a say already.The man is arguing in favor of continued life support, even though the girl's brain stem is gone, due to the abuse at her caregivers' hands. Critics say he doesn't want to face murder charges if she dies. The girl's birthmother wants to let her go. It's a tragic, complicated legal nightmare, and I can't help but think it is made all the more so by the silent technology of life support.
