The court found that patients have a right to refuse medical treatment based on the right to privacy found in both the Florida Constitution (Article I, section 23) and the U.S. Constitution.  The court specifically found that artificial feeding fell into the category of "extraordinary treatment" that could be withheld or withdrawn, without limitation by the legislature.  The court also found that patient's like Corbett (in a PVS, with no reasonable prospect of regaining cognitive brain function) may have their right to refuse treatment put into effect by a third party (in this case, her husband). 

Note: Although this ruling is binding only in Florida's Second Appellate District (central Gulf Coast: Lakeland - Tampa), the fact that the Florida Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal suggests that the precedent will hold, statewide.

In addition, the court found that none of the traditional state interests (preservation of life, prevention of suicide, protection of innocent third parties, and preservation of medical profession's ethical integrity) were significant when balanced against Browning's right to refuse treatment. 

The court also noted, however, that there must be "clear and convincing evidence" of a patient's desire to forgo life-sustaining treatment and that, in the absence of a written evidence, the burden of proof is on the party seeking to forgo treatment.  Further, the patient must have no reasonable probability of recovering competence (certified by the primary physician and two specialists).  Also, any limitations or conditions previously expressed by the patient must be considered. 

The Florida legislature passed and the governor signed a bill that authorizes Governor to issue one-time stay to prevent nutrition and hydration from being withdrawn for patients in a PVS when there is disagreement among immediate family members about the decision and there are no written directives in place, pending appointment of a guardian ad litem to consider the interests of the patient.  Governor Jeb Bush exercised his authority in this case and forced reintroduction of tube feeding for Mrs. Schiavo on October 21, 2003. 

The law was ultimately ruled inconsideration but legal wrangling over whether Terri Schiavo was actually in a persistent negative state, the suitability of her Michael to serve as guardian, and what the wishes of Terri Schiavo would be regarding continued tube feeding persisted for another year-and-a-half.

In March of 2005, the U.S. Congress passed and President Bush signed a private bill into law that gave Terri Schiavo's parents the right to have their case heard in the federal courts when it appeared all state court options had been exhausted. But federal judges in the 11th circuit and ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court, refused to hear the case.

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed (for the third time) on March 18, 2005. She died of dehydration 13 days later, on March 30, 2005.