A statement made out of the courtroom, which is offered into evidence during a trial to prove the substance of what was said. The “hearsay rule” makes hearsay not admissible as evidence; however, there are many exceptions. A notable exception for hospitals is the business record exception, which makes admissible written statements made in the ordinary course of business. The medical record is usually accepted as a business record; thus its contents are admissible in court unless excluded for other reasons (such as privilege or irrelevancy).
Statements overheard and repeated, rather than personally witnessed.