One thing to add:

It's a morbid topic, but I used the coverage of the Richardson accident to initiate a discussion of "end of life issues" with my family. Often people my age don't think to have these discussions, as we're still young and unlikely to die. A tragedy like this one can help people to realize that even relatively young, healthy people, need to have these discussions. Ending life support for a loved one is a horrible decision to have to make, but it becomes a little easier if you know it's what they woud have wanted.

I let my wife know that if I ever suffer a catastrophic brain injury like this one, I'd be smiling from where ever I was watching as my vital organs were harvested to save the lives of others. I encourage others to make the same decision, though obviously your personal belief system will control.

But please, have the conversation.