Thanks. I'm wondering if I should try to figure something about Portia (Merchant of Venice). From time to time I think Shakespeare may have laid out the solution to the problem, though I'm not quite sure how best to apply it.
The law, after all, does not allow a person to be denied oral food and hydration in such fashion as to cause death; I think Jeb Bush could very well regard Greer's orders regarding oral feeding to be superceded by those regarding gastrostomic feeding, and therefore void. I have a very strong suspicion that Michael knows that Terri would be capable of accepting food and water by mouth if they were allowed to her, and is very keen on ensuring that nobody ever proves it. If removal of the feeding tube would compel oral feeding (as by law it would appear it should) Michael might find himself somewhat less keen to have the feeding tube removed.
Are familiar with the Merchant of Venice scene I'm thinking of (Act IV scene 1)? Do you think it might be useful?
I'm so sorry! I never got into Shakespeare when I should have. I was tired of being labelled a geek back then. It wasn't until my own children had to perform Shakespeare at school that I began to see his genius. He was really ahead of his time, wasn't he?
I'm sure there are plenty of other Freepers who could help you with this analogy. If not, maybe you could contact Ken Jennings. ;-)
I strongly believe, also, that Michael knows that Terri can swallow which is why he won't allow her to have Holy Communion. That proves she can swallow.
Judge Greer also knows that she can swallow. That's why he said "I don't want anyone feeding that girl."
Which is exactly why he was in such a panic over the priest giving her last rights the last time.