Death, dignity and ethics
I have been thinking for quite some time that I should write at least a brief note on the issue. And finally I have decided to write after watching the TV news coverage of the tragic road accident and the death of former finance minister Mr. M. Saifur Rahman and that of another dreadful accident in which five members of a family were killed. Obviously, the news of Mr. Rahman's death came first in the electronic media and the way the accident scene and particularly the dead body of the late Rahman were shown in the exposures was not the way one would expect to watch them. His uncovered body, the doctor examining his pupil all appeared very undignified and highly improper. People should have minimum respect for a dead man whoever it may be. It was more painful to watch when a very popular TV channel gave coverage on the illustrious past of Mr. Rahman. The coverage again started with his uncovered body and swollen face. Similarly, both the electronic and the print media showed bodies of the victims of the other accident in the similar manner, lying on the ground uncovered. This is a very familiar scene when our media cover this type of sad stories. I am not very well aware of the journalistic ethics but still, as a member of the public, I think the ethics should dictate our conscience as how to show respect to a dead body or victims of any other disaster or mishap when the related news events are covered by the media. I firmly believe that the media, in its own way, always dictates our conscience towards ethical norms whenever we need it at our personal, social or national level, but what would happen if the media itself deviates from its own principled responsibility?
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