Every city in the country uses this practice every day
Pretty much. It is a part of the Compassionate Care regimen. It is not something that just arrived on the scene. Here is a good discussion of the medical ethics of the question.
I think that most liberals are saying "Why the hell must congress (or Gov. or Pres. Bush) step in and resolve this???" We should look into the potential for solving our energy problems, by harnassing the framers who we keep perpetually spinning in their graves.