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Dr. Cranford’s published definition of the Persistent Vegetative State differs substantially from Florida law. Court transcripts show that Judge George Greer used Dr. Cranford’s definition in assessing Terri, rather than Florida’s stricter definition.

Conclusion 1 - 3 There is no definitive neurological test for PVS.
Conclusion 1 - 4 There is no neurological test which will determine PVS patient consciousness.
Conclusion 1 - 5 In relation to the problem of PVS patient consciousness, medical practice has assumed that Consciousness IN = Consciousness B. Furthermore it has used the ‘reflex test’ as the criterion for establishing Consciousness B.
In recovery, if Terri improves, PVS is invalidated
Karen Quinlan’s case was the first case involving PVS to come before the US courts. Her breathing had been sustained by a respirator and the court application was for permission to remove the respirator. This the court permitted. However, on the removal of the respirator, Karen Quinlan did not die but continued to breath, unaided. She survived for a further 10 years in a PVS. She died in 1985 of acute pneumonia. Antibiotics had not been given to treat the pneumonia.

This is FL engineer’s post of Terri clearly understanding and responding. IOW, world, NOT PVS:

From Terri Big Eyes video available at www.terrisfight.org

Terri starts out apparently asleep. A doctor wakes her to start his tests.

Doctor: Terri. Open your eyes up...

Terri: (Startled at hearing her name. She starts moving her mouth and fluttering her eyes, like a person who is just waking up)

Doctor: Open your eyes, Terri open your eyes

Terri: (slowly at first, Terri struggles to open her eyes, then turns toward the doctor, and opens her eyes a normal amount)

Doctor: There you go, good.

Terri: (then, either to show off(?) or wanting to perform well, she leans further forward toward the doctor, looks straight at him and opens her eyes as WIDE AS SHE CAN. Note the WRINKLES ACROSS HER FOREHEAD [!!!] caused by her also RAISING HER EYEBROWS as high as possible )

Doctor: [now obviously impressed] GOOD!! GOOD JOB! GOOD JOB YOUNG LADY! Good Job.

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Thank you, FLE, for your work in putting that sequence together for all to see. It doesn't get any clearer than that. As if that video of Terri responding to her mother did not show that Terri is not PVS (it convinced a physician I know). May God bless all these efforts to effect Terri's release.