UBI: Complaint against reports on "Yasmin" pill rejected
The news magazine 10 vor 10 did not violate the principle of objectivity with its reports on the possible side effects of the birth control pill «Yasmin.» The Independent Complaints Board reached this conclusion and dismissed a complaint against the reports.
In May 2009, the Swiss television news magazine SF reported on a 16-year-old girl who suffered a pulmonary embolism after taking "Yasmin" and has been severely disabled ever since. Based on this case, 10 vor 10 made the possible side effects of contraceptives a topic of discussion. The complainants are now criticizing the fact that the reports falsely gave the impression that "Yasmin" was particularly dangerous. This is what the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television UBI wrote on Thursday.
The legally enshrined requirement of fairness was therefore violated, the complainants continued. In the opinion of the UBI, however, the audience could clearly see that the first contribution reflected the point of view of the young people. It was recognizable that the two subsequent contributions on the topic were influenced by the position of the girl and her family. In addition, the distributors of the contraceptive were able to comment on the allegations and justify their position.
The statements made by the mother were supplemented with statements from Swissmedic and medical representatives that were identical in content. It was therefore apparent that statements made by the mother and an interviewed expert were controversial. The UBI found that the sometimes complex medical facts could have been presented more precisely, as it writes. However, the journalistic simplifications had not significantly impaired the free formation of opinion. The accusation of excessive emotionalization was also unjustified.
The UBI therefore unanimously rejected the complaint against the three television broadcasts.
The legally enshrined requirement of fairness was therefore violated, the complainants continued. In the opinion of the UBI, however, the audience could clearly see that the first contribution reflected the point of view of the young people. It was recognizable that the two subsequent contributions on the topic were influenced by the position of the girl and her family. In addition, the distributors of the contraceptive were able to comment on the allegations and justify their position.
The statements made by the mother were supplemented with statements from Swissmedic and medical representatives that were identical in content. It was therefore apparent that statements made by the mother and an interviewed expert were controversial. The UBI found that the sometimes complex medical facts could have been presented more precisely, as it writes. However, the journalistic simplifications had not significantly impaired the free formation of opinion. The accusation of excessive emotionalization was also unjustified.
The UBI therefore unanimously rejected the complaint against the three television broadcasts.
