He was being fed through a feeding tube until he was able to learn how to chew and swallow again. A feeding tube is not “life support” in the truest sense of the word. Many of the nurses that took care of Terri felt that she could swallow, but Michael would not allow them to try to feed her. When the tube was removed, Terri was literally starved and dehydrated to death and Michael would not even permit the nurses to moisten her lips with a little water. If someone were to do this to an animal, they would probably be arrested and charged with animal cruelty. That this happened by court order in the United States of America is still unbelievable to me.
It is against the ANIMAL CRUELTY ordinances right there in Pinellas County. You'll have to ask Judge Greer why Terri did not qualify as an animal.