[Dolphy]

Providing just enough indirection to avoid the heresay objection -- and just enough proof to provide idiot Judge Greer to reach the conclusion he did.

Actually in February, 2000 Greer ruled that he did not have to decide on Michael Schiavo's statements since he had the testimony of Scott Shiavo and Joan Shiavo. He found nothing unreliable in them and that they were not impeached on cross examination. He also heard from from an expert witness who said that their testimony was consistent with statements made by people of Terri's age group at the time and that Americans want to "try it for a while" but they do not wish to live with no hope of improvement. He then proceeded to discount any other testimony as non-reflective of what she would do. He considered the quality of marriage questions to be a collateral issue.

For those who continue to defend this judicial process I say beware.

[AaronInCarolina]

He also heard from from an expert witness who said that their testimony was consistent with statements made by people of Terri's age group at the time and that Americans want to "try it for a while" but they do not wish to live with no hope of improvement.

This so-called expert witness also established the equivalence between "hooked to a machine" and "not wanting to prolong life". This allowed Judge Greer to broaden Terri's wishes from a more specific claim (alledged by Scott Schiavo) of not wanting to be "hooked to a machine" to the more general "wanting to die if I am disabled".