Precedent
The outcome of legal cases establishes precedent. Today, Dr. Krauthammer looks at the Schiavo case,

Given our lack of certainty, given that there are loved ones prepared to keep her alive and care for her, how can you allow the husband to end her life on his say-so? Because following the sensible rules of Florida custody laws, conducted with due diligence and great care over many years in this case, this is where the law led.

He proposes a solution,

There is no good outcome to this case. Except perhaps if Florida and the other states were to amend their laws and resolve conflicts among loved ones differently -- by granting authority not necessarily to the spouse but to whatever first-degree relative (even if in the minority) chooses life and is committed to support it. Call it Terri's law. It would help prevent our having to choose in the future between travesty and tragedy.

While on the subject of travesty and tragedy, I came across this post (via Babalu) from Paxety Pages, on how the Elian Gonzalez case established precedent for the Schiavo case.