Press Council: "Kassensturz" was allowed to film undercover
With its undercover investigation of cosmetic surgeons, «Kassensturz» did not violate journalistic principles. The Press Council approved the approach on the grounds of public interest.
Kassensturz" did not violate journalistic principles with its undercover research into cosmetic surgeons. The Press Council approved the procedure due to the public interest. For the program, the consumer magazine accompanied a young woman with a hidden camera to the consultation hours of various cosmetic surgeons. The Press Council's ruling on Tuesday now states that the information would have been difficult to obtain through other, open research. A doctor's surgery is a commercial premises. Therefore, only the privacy of patients could be violated. The Press Council also considers the covert filming and audio recording to be legitimate in this case. The doctors filmed were also able to prohibit the broadcasting of the video and audio documents. Two of the doctors exercised this right.
The Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI) came to a different conclusion regarding a second report on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Kassensturz had also broadcast hidden footage of this. In August, the UBI found that the images should not have been shown. The DRS ombudsman's office, on the other hand, ruled that the covert research was legitimate.
The Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI) came to a different conclusion regarding a second report on the subject of cosmetic surgery. Kassensturz had also broadcast hidden footage of this. In August, the UBI found that the images should not have been shown. The DRS ombudsman's office, on the other hand, ruled that the covert research was legitimate.
