My view of the facts are that Terri is 'dead' and the only thing that keeps her 'alive' *in appearance* is the most primative elements of her brain regulating autonomic systems.
To hear those on her parent's side talk you'd think she's ready to leap from the bed if only they got her a little therapy. I'm not aware of any court-appointed physician who has determined anything of the kind.
I personally agree with you on that. And imagine my surprise to find that starving to death is in fact not uncommon. Another post here referred to that firefighter who was starved to death, and there is the Cruzan case as well. Each of those represents and reflects the state of the law and medical profession, and no doubt represents a fraction of the situations where starvation was used to terminate a healthy body.
All they want is what she deserves - the therapies given to any person in her condition. And there's a lot to be said for basic human decency. No way can he defend denying her any stimuli, the sun, her family etc.
Before cessation of therapy, she was saying simple words. Neglect has caused her hands to curl into her chest. A nurse was once forbidden by Michael from placing washcloths in her hands to prevent this, as he considered it therapy.
With regard to her being "dead," have you see this video? The dr administering the test is one of Michael's, by the way. He's pretty tickled by her response.