Chapter 3: Rights and responsibilities
ACTIVITY: DEALING WITH THE DEAD
How would you react to the presence of a television camera crew in the mortuary?
I’d let them through, hoping to use the media to draw the authorities’ attention.
I’d ask the television camera crew to leave the mortuary.
Incorrect answer!
Although this might be a quick way to draw attention and put pressure on the authorities to ensure prompt assistance, health-care ethics require medical personnel to respect the dignity and confidentiality of the dead and the dying, the sick and the wounded, and anyone else in the hospital. This also implies shielding them from the media. In this case, the hospital administrator should look for alternative ways of engaging with the media, without compromising the dignity of the dead.
Correct answer!
Although you might be tempted to show the media the dire state of your hospital, health-care ethics require medical personnel to respect the dignity and confidentiality of the dead and the dying, the sick and the wounded, and anyone else in the hospital. This also implies shielding them from the media. In this case, the hospital administrator should look for alternative ways of engaging with the media, without compromising the dignity of the dead.