She swallows her own saliva now (or did until she got so dried up she didn't secrete any more), so any comparable flow of liquified food would go down just as well.
Even more importantly, there are therapies available NOW which can teach a non swallower to swallow again. It involves stimulation of the swallowing muscles.
But the courts have found based on testimony not only from the husband's doctor but that of court appointed medical teams (sadly many think that Greer only relied on the husband's doctor - he did not) that she is indeed in a PVS which can not be reversed.
What I object to is people saying that she can as of right now (just before the tube was pulled) swallow and chew food. That is a falsehood.
HEALTHFUL DRINKS AND WARM MEALS SINCE THE ORDER-TO-MURDER-AN-INVALID BY JUDGE GREER
Murderer-At-Will Judge Greer 35
......................... Terri Shiavo 0
.......................... Lee Malvo 25
.......................... Scott Peterson 24