Sorry...I was assuming you'd read the basic information on the case before posting, but I forgot what topic we were on....facts don't seem to matter to the I'm-On-A-First-Name-Basis-With-"Terri"-and-Know-Her-Better-Than-Her-Husband crowd... are you one of them?
In any case...read the big GAL's (Wolfson) report to Jeb Bush for info on the swallowing tests. She failed to swallow, despite repeating the testing twice trying to get a response. The results were so conclusive that there was no hope, that it was recommended that no more tests be done.
Wolfson recommended another swallowing test, if the parties could agree on what to do with the results, and he also noted that the Schindlers changed positions on the PVS diagnosis. For years and years they agreed she was in a PVS, but flip-flopped just prior to this report.
Regarding saliva, it takes conscious cerebral activity to move the food back to where the swallowing reflex (reflex=involuntary) takes over. For small amounts of saliva, the reflex can be triggered without conscious intervention, but for her to actually swallow food or drink, she would need the conscious voluntary input. That is, her neck angle wouldn't allow her to eat, but it did prevent her from drooling as the saliva could go back down her throat. IANAP.
If we can get the link up, you might find the videos made in 1992 or 1993 in Michael's presence (he's in the vids also) where Terri is in a wheelcahir, neck brace, swallows, follows commands to transfer her gaze to things Michael points to on the lake before them, and licks her lips repeatedly. These are all things a PVS patient cannot do and were no doubt instrumental in the awards for monies to pay for rehab therapy for Terri. I'll freepmail a couple of friends who may have the links.
Ah yes, the report where she had the best of care, despite having 5 teeth pulled due to neglect.