Who in their right mind thinks it's okay to subject a dying child to severe pain and discomfort in order to keep him alive for a few extra days?

American religious fundamentalists, that's who: https://twitter.com/BarbaraRich_law/status/99200573272698880...

Simple answer to your question: It is for _doctors_ to assess if there is any realistic hope of recovery from an illness and if not, when palliative care is the best option. They're not perfect but it's the best that we have.

Terminal illness happens to us all eventually, you have to face that. It happens to children too sometimes, you have to face that too.