By your definition, a baby would be PVS. There is a legal dinition of PVS in FLorida that has been posted a few times and Terri did not fit that definition. I don't have it handy. Perhaps some one else has it.
Terri does communicate. She gets excited when her mother visits. She laughs and smiles at her father's jokes. She used to say a few words, but since Micheal would not allow her anymore rehabilitation after he won the jury award, she is only able to slur some words now.
I hadn't thought of it that way but you are right. The difference I see is that even though a baby can't say I'm conscious they can laugh, giggle, cry, scream make all sorts of verbalizations and movements of all their body parts arms, legs, eyes, head.
Terri can laugh but does she cry or giggle or make all sorts of verbalizations short of actual speach?
She is not able to move other than turning her head and blinking her eyes right? I mean she can't walk or sit up on her own. She can't pick up a pen a write.
We can't actually say whether or not she can think all we can say is that she can speak or write or sign i.e. she can't communicate.
I'm sorry I know I'm still having a hard time making my point.