The Role of Journalists in Reporting End of Life Decisions: Questions of Ethics, Law and Democratic Citizenship

An end-of-life decision is usually made in response to suffering, to alleviate the pain and symptoms of a critically ill patient. However, it is not always that straight-forward with the ability of the patient to make rational decisions often coming into question. End-of-life decisions regarding infants or during pregnancy when foetal malformation occurs is also problematic. There are varying arguments relating to the moral and ethical nature of these decisions. This topic is widely debated with some focusing on the issue of individual rights while others argue in favour of social obligations. In terms of the media, it is often regulated by the law which in turn guides the topics that are being reported. This brings into question the objectivity of journalists in reporting end-of-life decisions. With different countries taking different stances, it's important to develop a wider understanding of this issue as each country has its own laws and beliefs which are ultimately filtered down to the public. However, democratic political systems are partially led by the public who are able to vote for their preferred leading party.
The aim of this research is to develop a detailed and equal analysis on the role of journalism in reporting on end-of-life decisions, drawing on a number of questions to effectively analyse the topic. The purpose is to draw attention to the various arguments and considerations. Media can influence the public but media publications can also be influenced by external factors. The topic is complex and requires detailed research, thought and insight in order to come to an informed and knowledgeable conclusion.