[Walkin Man]

You didn't answer my question. If she can eat and drink water normally WHY WAS A FEEDING TUBE HOOKED UP TO HER for the past 15 YEARS??

Could it be that a person in a permanent vegetative state cannot ever learn to eat normally?????

You may be able to fill her mouth with water but I doubt anyone in that condition would ever be able to eat normally on their own. They wouldn't even be conscious of the act of eating anyway...

[supercat]

You didn't answer my question. If she can eat and drink water normally WHY WAS A FEEDING TUBE HOOKED UP TO HER for the past 15 YEARS??

There are many people who can eat normally, but nonetheless use a feeding tube because

1. Oral feeding poses a risk of choking/asphyxiation. Even when the risk is slight, if it can be avoided there's no reason to take it unnecessarily.
2. For many patients, tube feeding is faster and easier than oral feeding. It's not uncommon for patients to receive most of their nutrition through a g-tube but nonetheless consume a small amount by mouth for pleasure.

Unfortunately, Michael and Greer have forbidden all efforts at feeding by mouth on the basis that it would supposedly be too dangerous. I've read Greer's order, but I still don't see any rationale for the prohibition under current circumstances. Even if there were only a 1% chance Terri could take food by mouth, I see no legitimate reason to deny her that.

[UCANSEE2]

WHY WAS A FEEDING TUBE HOOKED UP TO HER for the past 15 YEARS??

For the convenience of the nurses, and because of insurance requirements, a lawsuit if Terri should ever choke on food or water. Same reason you are supposed to wear a seatbelt.