Because people who suffer mentally aren't beyond helping.

People who are terminally ill with, say, cancer, though, are adifferent case, hence why I say I oppose it to an extent.

Yes I know they're technically not brain dead. Brain dead is a clear diagnosis, which I would prefer over getting Alzheimers. It's strange to see consciousness and awareness disappear slowly over time. At what point is the person not there anymore and all that's left is a living shell responding to basic stimuli. Without memory, are you still you. At least they can still breathe on their own yet that's about it.

No offense, but if you haven't been around these kind of people then you really can't relate.  The person you know is gone, sometimes there will be a spark, but otherwise it's just a shell of a body that is frightend, confused, anxious and so drugged up they just sit ther drooling.  As otherwise they just harm themselves and others.

you cannot suffer if you are brain dead since all you are as a person is in your brains, memories, emotions all triggered from the brain, even pain, if your brain doesn't function for all intents and purposes you are not among the living humans anymore, and since I believe there is nothing before or after our live I believe they are not suffering.

In this case the real thing you should look at are the people still among us. If they can find emotional relief for keeping someone in this state, they should have that option, but if they don't need this then the body should also be relieved of duty.

I think in the end it costs money and people to keep someone in this state when its overall pointless.

suppose it depends on whether or not doctors can without any doubt or lack of certainty state that the person is like never going to wake up again.

if the odds are incredibly slim then obviously pulling the plug is probably the best choice for the individual and family. frankly often the person is probably already mentally 'dead' so.

but in instances in which there seems to be some hope obviously you have to do your best to try and honor the loved ones decisions and such prior to them going under. if they didn't make any indication of what they wanted then, again, I think it should come down to the odds. if they however did make it clear they'd want to be pulled along as long as possible if they was ANY chance of recovery then I say let them- as long as their funds or their loved ones funds can cover it to some degree

in terms of people being brain dead on life support for years on end- that's just an absurd concept and not something society can maintain though

I don't pretend to know the agony the people go through as well as their families. Mental disability and suicide runs in my family, so generally speaking I don't know anyone in my family that has lived long enough to get that way. I'm just saying that they are not brain dead.