" I have a buddy who just got out of the hospital after kidney failure; he had a feed tube inserted because by mouth he could have choked/died.
Should I have asked Jeb to step in an override a doctors order so I could give him a spoonful of stuff? "
Your buddy cannot tolerate oral food and feeding him by mouth would be very harmful.
Terri's case was different- it appears that the feeding tube may have been redundant, if we are to believe the sworn affidavits of the health care professionals who actually cared for her.
They fed her soft food and water ( behind Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer's back ) and she apparently tolerated it well- no aspiration pneumonia resulted.
Her parents pleaded with Judge Greer to allow them to document Terri's ability to swallow soft foods by getting a swallow test and he denied their motion.
I thought this was urban myth until I read their pleading on line.
When your buddy recovers and is able to eat normally , I am sure that you would be as outraged as the rest of us, if Judge Greer ordered that once the feeding tube comes out, your buddy would also be forbidden to eat regular foods.
Both pathways for nutrition were officially blocked , by court order, for Terri.
I agree a swallow test should have been ordered on her again. Although Greer ruled based on an earlier swallow test. Even tho I don't agree with his ruling, he had the right to do so within the law.
Again; not Jeb's fault.
Change the law, change the lawyers.
The schindlers lawyer sucked, period. and so did their "spokesperson".