Question

The Objective of this exercise is to apply a systematic analysis of a real ethical dilemma.

Reporting on Robin Williams When actor Robin Williams took his life in August of 2014, major news organizations covered the story in great detail. Most major news outlets reported on Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Keith Boyd’s press conference, which revealed graphic details from the coroner’s report about the methods Williams used. While there was great interest on the part of the public in finding out what happened, many argued that reporting too much detail about the suicide violated the family’s privacy. Indeed, many of Robin Williams’s fans posted on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks to express their objections to the media treatment of the suicide, urging reporters to respect the family’s right to grieve in peace. Several members of the mental health community also took issue with the detailed reports. Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, wrote to CNN that “When a media report describes clear details of unusual methods of suicide and essentially gives a “how to” guide—the danger is it can make suicide seem like a more accessible action to take.” Some journalists expressed similar viewpoints, criticizing the reports as a clear violation of media ethics. According to the Press Complaints Commission, “When reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method used.” Yet other journalists argued that the primary responsibility of the media was to report the story truthfully and factually. In an op-ed in the LA Times, Andrew Klavan wrote, “The manner of Williams’ death is public information. Journalists should report it as long as it remains of interest to the public. It is not a journalist’s job to protect us from the ugly facts.” Klavan argued that the journalist’s duty is not to do good or be wise, but to report the whole story, which may in fact be a part of a larger story unfolding elsewhere. Sheriff Boyd similarly defended his own actions by stating that he had a duty to report the details as part of the public record. In an interview with Today, Williams’s daughter Zelda discussed how her father never sought to hide his problems, mentioning his openness about struggling with alcoholism. She stated, “I think that one of the things that is changing, that is wonderful, is that people are finally starting to approach talking about illnesses that people can’t immediately see…He didn’t like people feeling like the things that were hard for them they should go through alone.”

Discussion Questions

1. Systematic moral analysis (SMA) first requires identifying the problems in a situation. In this case, who was harmed and how? You may reference the list of moral rules in the transcript of the narration below.

2. The second step of SMA requires asking who is responsible. Is Sheriff Boyd responsible? The journalists? Anyone else? How do their role-related responsibilities relate to the harm caused?

3. Third in the process of SMA is to consider whether or not the action can be justified. Do you think the role-related responsibilities of Sheriff Boyd or the journalists justified their actions? Why or why not? What alternative ways of reporting Robin Williams’s suicide would have caused less harm?

4. Finally, if you had been in the position of Sheriff Boyd or the journalists, what do you think would have been the ethically ideal action to take?

Answer 1

1.

Systematic Moral Analysis (SMA) Wherein, tool helps to think through ethically complex situation before taking any action, also helps in analyzing the ethical dimensions of ethically complex situation after the fact. The ethical Decision involves as :

• The action should be consistent with assumption which must everyone with the same reasons acts the same way
• The action should be chosen that maximizes the utility which is ultimate end towards all actions are meant
• The action should be chosen as such that must be consistent with the virtues that are essential to humanity.

In this case, Robbin williams was suffered from financial problems,drug addiction, relationship problems an severe depression wherein those factors led to his suicide and tragic death.

Moral Rules:

Systematic Moral Analysis (SMA) is the abiding the rules that must not cause harm to anyone and should not be violated by any odd means or cheating. Inorder to identify the ethically questionable acts in reference given must be taken care as follows:

• None of them must be killed.
• None of them must be harmed or caused pain by any means.
• None of them must be deceived.
• None of them must be cheated.
• One must keep his Promises and must be faithful.
• One must Obey the law.
• One must do his duty which must be good.
• The freedom or opprotunity must not be deprived by anyone
• The Pleasure must not be deprived by anyone.

2.

Sheriff Boyd and Journalists was not revealed the exact report of actual cause of suicide.Robbin williams was addicted to coccaine which has led him to major depression that was well known to his fans and public wherein, he has repeatedly mentioned his depression and anxiety many times during interviews and also he was admitted to rehabilitation center inorder to deal with alcohol addiction and many times he was hopitalized due to heart problems and aortic valve replacement surgery. The immense financial problem for divorce settlements which has turned out one of the prominent contributing risk factors toward his state of depression.

Instead of being wise and protecting the ugly facts, the Journalists are bound to do their duty by submiiting the whole story for the public informationwhich irradicate the false information being spread throughout. The sheriff Boyd has to investigate the factors relating to his suicide instead of defending the statement which can reveal the findings to the public.

3.

The Goal of justification in SMA is to;

• causing least harm to others.
• must withstand public scrutiny
• The situation must be ethically permissible for anyone.

The Role- Related Responsibilities of the Journalists and sheriff Boyd has not Justified their actions since they have not made an attempt to find out the proper cause pertaining to suicide of Robbin Williams, instead of defending the public statement. As the Actor has many times revealed his cause for depression many times during the interviews, The Journalist has to identify and evaluate tthe problems he was facing from; instead of causing more harm which had led him for commiting the suicide.

The final autopsy report affirmed that, the cause of his death was neither alcohol or illegal drugs involved,the drugs which he had been used at therapeutic levels, suffering due to increase in Paranoia; The brain tissues examination had manifested with Parkinsonism Symptoms that revealed teh Lewy body dementia which was the critical factor that led to his suicide.The Significant psychiatric problem has to be identified by the sheriff Boyd in advance wherein the Robbin williams got saved from commiting the suicide.

4.

if I was designated as Sheriff Boyd or The Journalist, I would have ;

• Illustrated the situations that can cause significant harm or benefit to many people
• The Probability of effect would be demonstrated wherein the act will happen and will cause or benefit
• The Moral or Immoral Behaviour will be identified by establishing the social consensus or agreement.
• showing to the public that the temporary immediacy will happen soon.
• Ethical standards and strategies will be strictly followed
• The Moral rules of SMA (systematic Moral Analysis) will be followed for decision making process.

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