Press Council reprimands Blick for "Dignitas" reporting
The assisted-suicide organization Dignitas had filed a complaint with the Press Council regarding a series of articles in *Blick* that described a new method of dying using a helium gas mask. According to the Council, the newspaper failed to take into account the risk of copycat incidents.
The newspaper took the view that the method of dying with the helium gas mask made assisted dying too easy. In addition, Dignitas was earning too much. A "do-it-yourself kit" with a plastic bag and instructions can be ordered on the Internet for 60 dollars, whereas the "list price" for "poisoning" with gas at Dignitas is around 10,000 francs, according to the series of articles.
According to the founder of Dignitas, Ludwig A. Minelli, Blick violated the truth in this series of articles because he first wrote about a plastic bag that is put over the head instead of a mask that is pulled over the face. His privacy was also violated - he did not poison anyone - as well as the necessary restraint when reporting on suicide. The Press Council agrees with Minelli on one point: "Blick" could have described the simple ordering of the "do-it-yourself kit" on the Internet without mentioning the name of the delivery company. The media should be aware of how great the risk of copycat effects is when reporting on suicide.
According to the founder of Dignitas, Ludwig A. Minelli, Blick violated the truth in this series of articles because he first wrote about a plastic bag that is put over the head instead of a mask that is pulled over the face. His privacy was also violated - he did not poison anyone - as well as the necessary restraint when reporting on suicide. The Press Council agrees with Minelli on one point: "Blick" could have described the simple ordering of the "do-it-yourself kit" on the Internet without mentioning the name of the delivery company. The media should be aware of how great the risk of copycat effects is when reporting on suicide.
