BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

An incident where a mother's placenta was cooked and served to her friends and

family was related in the Spectrum documentary entitled "A Midwife's Story"

broadcast on National Radio at 8.10am on 26 January 1997, and at 8.06pm on 28

January 1997.

Mr Allan of Dunedin complained to the broadcaster, Radio New Zealand Limited, that

the item breached the standards of good taste and decency.

In response, RNZ advised that no other complaints had been received about the item,

and it considered that the subject was discussed in a neutral way conveying no

"undesirable overtones". The comment, it stated, related to a true incident. RNZ

declined to uphold the complaint.

Dissatisfied with that response, Mr Allan referred the matter to the Broadcasting

Standards Authority under s. 8 (1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989, pointing out that

the practice of eating a placenta might be termed cannibalism.

For the reasons given below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have listened to a tape of the item and have read the

correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). As is its practice, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

A Spectrum documentary entitled "A Midwife's Story", broadcast on National Radio

at 8.10am on 26 January 1997, and 8.06pm on 28 January, included the recounting, by

the midwife interviewed, of an incident where a mother cooked and served the

newborn baby's placenta to friends and family. The comment was made in the

context of the midwife's recollection of different cultural approaches to birth.

Mr Allan complained that the story related by the midwife breached standards of good

taste and decency.

RNZ assessed the complaint under standard R2 of the Radio Code of Broadcasting

Practice which requires broadcasters:

R2   To take into consideration currently accepted norms of decency and

good taste in language and behaviour, bearing in mind the context in

which that language of behaviour occurs.

Although not a deciding factor, RNZ noted that no other complaints had been made

about the item. It also noted that the subject was discussed naturally within cultural

perspectives on childbirth, and conveyed no undesirable social overtones. The

comment, RNZ advised, related to a true incident and it declined to uphold the

complaint.

In his reference of the complaint to the Authority, Mr Allen made the comment that

the practice referred to might be termed cannibalism.

The Authority does not consider that the item breached standard R2 of the Radio

Code of Broadcasting Practice. In reaching this decision, it has taken into account the

points that the incident was recounted naturally by the midwife in the context of

childbirth, and the different customs associated with it. It was a true story, and one of

several anecdotes told by the midwife as she recalled interesting and unusual aspects

of her working life.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
17 April 199

Appendix

Mr Allan's Complaint to Radio New Zealand Limited - 17 February 1996

Mr R F Allan of Dunedin complained to Radio New Zealand Limited that a

documentary entitled "A Midwife's Story" broadcast on Spectrum on National Radio

on 26 January 1997 at 8.10am and 28 January 1997 at 8.06pm relating to midwifery,

breached standards of good taste and decency by recounting an incident when after a

human birth, the placenta was cooked and eaten.

RNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 19 February 1997

RNZ assessed the complaint under standard R2 of the Radio Code of Broadcasting

Practice which requires broadcasters:

R2 To take into consideration currently accepted norms of decency and

good taste in language and behaviour, bearing in mind the context in

which any language or behaviour occurs.

RNZ advised that it considered standard R2 to be a standard for which the number of

complaints received about a single item could be relevant, though not a finally

determining factor. It observed that no other complaints about the programme had

been received.

RNZ was of the view that the issue was to be considered in terms of the intention and

presentation of the programme. It noted that the subject was discussed in a neutral

way, and the comment was made when the midwife was talking about cultural

approaches to the placenta. Accordingly, it considered that the comment was not

undesirable. Explaining that the comment related to a true incident, RNZ declined to

uphold the complaint.

Mr Allan's Referral to the Authority - 25 February 1996

Dissatisfied with the decision from RNZ, Mr Allan referred his complaint to the

Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

He noted that RNZ had overlooked the fact that the practice spoken about could

constitute cannibalism.

RNZ's Response to the Authority - 28 February 1997

RNZ stated in response to Mr Allan's comment to the Authority that:

...while we may have overlooked aspects of cannibalism (a word which might

under the circumstances be disputed), the original complaint seems to have

done likewise. There is no mention of cannibalism in Mr Allan's complaint to

Radio New Zealand, and the Authority will perhaps agree that it is a subject

which ought not to be introduced now.