>ostensibly though, on a long enough time scale, if you have enough non-responsive patients taking up i.c.u.s, wouldn't a capitalist medical institution invest in more? those things are terrifically expensive, so i've got to imagine they make a good profit on them, and i know there isn't any money in a dead patient.

No in all points.
Sadly I can only offer personal experience here, which is worthless in any proper discussion.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,12617672%255E663,00.html

The measure was easily approved in the Senate, but Democrats forced a debate in the House of Representatives.
Well after midnight, the Bill was approved 203-58.

No matter what I think about the actual matter at hand, I quite disagree with that process. Passing such specially minted laws as that Lex Schiavo usually does the constitutional system (principle of legal stability?) more bad than it does the person in question good.