Here is the affidavit of Dr. William Cheshire, opining that Terri is NOT in a persistent vegetative state, but instead in a state of minimal consciousness -- which means that she can experience pain. (HT: Hugh Hewitt and National Review).

With such evidence, it only increases the stakes, suggesting that the woman being dehydrated and starved to death may well be aware of what's happening -- or at the least the discomfort of it.