Her husband agreed to let her be hooked up to those machines that did keep her alive at first. He agreed to have a feeding tube installed. Now, if Terri didn't want to live like that, why did he agree to have a feeding tube portal surgically inserted in to her abdomen in the first place? He would have been going against her wishes back then and should have known it, IF she in fact told him that she wouldn't want to live like that (unless he is a moron, in which case his memory can't be trusted).
I think you are ignoring certain facts about Terri's case, and trying to impose your view of what constitutes life and what doesn't in this issue.
IMO, this case is about more than the "right-to-die". That's the label that is being used, but it is more than that. It's nothing more than a clever distraction of what is really going on, similar to the way the libs like to call it "pro-choice" when they really mean "pro-abortion" or "pro-death for pre-born infant humans".
Here is a clear case of a man who wants to remove his wife's feeding tube after she no longer serves his purpose. It has nothing to do with love or respect. It has to do with his self-serving attitude. Michael was always going through the motions (much like politicians do) about what was best for himself, not for Terri.
At one point, keeping Terri alive was what was best for Michael. Maybe she would recover and he could have the love of his life back. Maybe her being alive kept him out of jail. Since her collapse wasn't seriously investigated, I'm not sure we'll ever know the truth about what happened to cause Terri's collapse.
Soon enough though, Michael realized that rehab was expensive and he couldn't afford it. What to do? Sue for malpractice and hope for the best. Say that you want to take care of your wife for the rest of your lives. That will win some sympathy points, and maybe the big bucks, too. At the time, this to Terri's parents seems reasonable as to what Terri might want. She would want therapy. She would want to live.
If it weren't about the money for Michael, why would he issue a "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" order on Terri within months of receiving the money from the malpractice trial? The fact that he did so is documented under oath. Terri never received any more therapy from that point on (mid-1993).
After a while, Terri still wouldn't die, no matter how much he let her languish without rehabilitation or therapy. He only allowed the very basics of care. Why didn't he use the money to allow Terri to get the chance to rehab that he promised under oath in the malpractice trial? The answer, I believe, is because that trial was just a charade for Michael. Like I said...this has never been about what was best for Terri, only Michael. And it wasn't until 1993 that Terri's parents realized what was going on.
Michael continued to do what's best for HIM in the ensuing years. Getting hooked up in another relationship. Not spending money for Terri's rehab. Fighting Terri's parents for guardianship of their daughter. Spending the malpractice money on lawyer's fees. Sending her to a hospice instead of a nursing home. Only giving Terri more than basic care when her parents went to court to get that for her (teeth cleaned, gynecology exams, etc). He did the minimum unless he got called on the carpet for it.
After a while, those darn Schindlers just weren't giving up. What was best for Michael, again? Well, now he wanted to get married, and his fiancee wanted to get married in the Catholic Church. If he divorced Terri, again the $$ comes in to play. He can't have it. Annulled? Still can't have it. Hmmm. How about if she dies? Wait, might be on to something there!
This whole thing has started out as nothing more than Michaels' wanting to have things his way. It's about power and control.
It has nothing to do with Terri's right-to-die, but don't let the mainstream media do anything to change your point of view. It's so refreshing to see FReepers who believe everything they're told, without trying to analyze it from a different perspective. < /sarcasm >
I won't call you a troll yet. Maybe you are sadly misinformed. If so, please learn and research about Terri. Don't buy into everything you're told. Investigate. If you're not a troll, we'll know soon enough.