[peteram]

but technically when they testified about Terri's "Wishes" it is not hearsay as her alleged words have independent legal significance and as such are an exception to the hearsay rule.

Could you please elaborate? I really want to understand this.

[tort_feasor]

Hearsay is testimony that offers an out of court statement for the truth of the matter asserted therein and not allowed under exceptions. Exceptions to the hearsay rule, dying declaration ("Joe Smith killed me") excited utterance ("It was a red car that ran him over!"), act of independent legal significance, ("I don't want to be hooked upton machines").