It is time now to decide if the letter of the law is superior to the principles that create the law. Or to say it in another way; is the principle of abiding by the letter of the law superior to the principle of natural rights like life?
Exceptional situations require exceptional actions and exceptional judgment on those who act to right an injustice. This is not about granting a permanent and absolute authority to the President or Congress it is about exercising the authority to use judgment and apply mercy where those qualities have come into doubt in the system itself.
I don't believe the executive branch rescue of Terri would be extralegal in any respect. The executive branch has a DUTY to uphold the Constitutional RIGHTS of it's citizens. Thus, the EXECUTIVE BRANCH has a duty in this EXTRAORDINARY circumstance of life and death and CRUEL and UNUSUAL punishment suffered by Terri to protect her rights, (and those of her family), by removing Terri from the clutches of those who would deny them.
Acting exceptionally in this exceptional situation would not harm the RULE of LAW even a little. ALLOWING the INJUSTICE FORCED upon Terri to STAND will establish HORRIBLE precedent, the consequences of which we cannot begin to fathom.