"I'm sorry but I can't believe the husband could forbid routine hygienic care - it sounds like total hype. A nursing home could lose its license if the inspectors came through and no "order" from the husband could prevent it."
That statement could be logical outside of this maze Terri's in. Stop and think for a moment: the husband has already been given authority by the court to remove the feeding tube, which is what Terri's parents are fighting. If Terri's parents lose, the husband CAN and WILL invoke that authority and have the feeding tube removed, which will result in her death by starvation. And the nursing home won't lose its license, because the court empowered him to do so.
The court has generally empowered him, as the 'husband', in like fashion all along, and his withholding of dental hygiene stemmed from that empowerment, and was therefore not the responsibility of the nursing home. But, in this twisted, convoluted mess of illogic, the nursing home had to have the extractions performed so Terri wouldn't die from an infection, for which they WOULD have been liable. And the husband had to allow the extractions because, at that point, he didn't have the final authority to forbid anything the lack of which would directly cause her death. Now he does.
I guess it's also pitiful that one needs a scorecard to keep track of all the manipulations and contradictions in this situation. All while a life is at stake.
- knightshadow.
It is very pitiful. Although, some people haven't been following the full story or read information without the full details. It's good they question the situation and learn of the facts of Terri's condition. Then, there are a few, on this thread, that are just being nasty or callous. I question their true motivation posting on this thread.