Doug Miller wrote:

In article . com, wrote:

Indeed, Terri Shiavo was beyond brain-dead, much of the dead brain
tissue had been absorbed into her body. What was left of her higher
brain was severely atrophied. She was nearly anencephalic.

Conjecture, and probably false. When the autopsy results are released, then
we'll see. Evidence so far indicates that she was not brain-dead:
unquestionably, she was able to breathe on her own, and her heart beat,
without assistance of machinery. Brain-dead people can't do that.

Brain stem functions only, non-cognitive...and certainly no more
conjectural than your contention.