BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

The initial unsuccessful, and later successful, attempt to commit suicide by a woman

suffering from manic depression was dealt with in the drama Police Rescue. The

episode complained about was broadcast at 8.30pm on 23 January 1997.

Complainant D complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the

broadcast breached the standard relating to showing unfamiliar methods of causing

death, and the standard prohibiting showing close-up detail of how to commit suicide.

TVNZ upheld the latter aspect and apologised for screening the programme. As the

method shown was not unfamiliar, it declined to uphold the other aspect.

Dissatisfied both with the aspect not upheld, and the action taken on the aspect which

was upheld, Complainant D referred her complaint to the Broadcasting Standards

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

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

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read

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

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

Police Rescue broadcast on 23 January 1997 focused on a woman who acknowledged

that she had a manic depressive illness for which she was receiving treatment. At the

beginning of the programme she threatened to commit suicide by jumping from a high

building and, at the end of the programme, she successfully committed suicide when

she piped exhaust fumes into her closed-up vehicle.

Complainant D, a member of the Manic Depressive Society, complained to TVNZ

that the programme breached standards V6 and V7 of the Television Code of

Broadcasting Practice as it showed methods of suicide which could be copied.

TVNZ assessed the complaint under the nominated standards. They read:

V6   Ingenious devices for and unfamiliar methods of inflicting pain, injury or

death, particularly if capable of easy imitation, must not be shown except

in exceptional circumstances which are in the public interest.

V7   Close-up detail indicating how suicides and hangings may be accomplished

must not be shown. Furthermore, in dealing with factual material about

suicides in New Zealand, programmers should be mindful of the

provisions of the Coroners Act which forbids the disclosure of a method

of suicide, except with the express permission of the Coroner concerned.

Focussing on the wording in standard V6, TVNZ argued that, as neither of the

methods portrayed were "ingenious" or "unfamiliar", the standard had not been

contravened. However, it accepted that too much detail of the procedure involved in

committing suicide by inhaling exhaust fumes was screened. Accordingly, it

concluded, standard V7 had been breached. Apologising for the distress caused,

TVNZ wrote to Complainant D:

Your letter has led to considerable discussion here, and the appraisers

acknowledge that on this occasion some unacceptable material slipped through.

I would like to reassure you that TVNZ is very conscious of the care needed

when dealing with the theme of suicide. Very recently we removed a similar

scene from an episode of "Blue Heelers". You may be interested to know that

our appraisers view close to ten thousand programmes a year to ensure they

comply with programme standards. Lapses like this are rare, but your letter

prompts us to greater diligence.

Complainant D referred her complaint to the Authority on two grounds. First, she

was dissatisfied with TVNZ's decision not to uphold the standard V6 aspect of her

complaint. She believed TVNZ's interpretation of the standard was excessively

narrow. Secondly, in view of the programme's lack of sensitivity for sufferers of

manic depression, it was insufficient merely to apologise to her in writing.

Considering first the aspect of the referral which focussed on the interpretation of

standard V6, the Authority accepts that there is some overlap between standards V6

and V7. To ensure that each standard has a clear focus, the Authority agrees with

TVNZ's approach that standard V6 is principally concerned with what is described in

the first line as "Ingenious devices for and unfamiliar methods of inflicting pain ..."

The episode of Police Rescue complained about did not deal with matters which could

be said to fall within these parameters. Accordingly, the Authority concludes that the

broadcast did not breach standard V6.

Complainant D's central concern was the depiction of a method of suicide which could

easily be copied. This concern is addressed in the first sentence of standard V7 which

reads:

Close-up detail indicating how suicides and hangings may be accomplished must

not be shown.

TVNZ upheld this aspect and it is a decision with which the Authority fully concurs.

The programme included unnecessary detail.

TVNZ apologised for the breach and Complainant D's referral dealt with her

dissatisfaction at the extent of its action TVNZ's action, as noted, amounted to an

apology.

While the Authority understands the reasons for Complainant D's dissatisfaction, it is

unable to suggest an alternative or further action which will not bring some public

focus on the details contained in the item. The Authority accepts that the blatant

breach of standard V7 resulted from TVNZ's carelessness, but to ensure minimal

likelihood of any reference to the incident and, thus, possible further public

consideration or screening of the material contained in the programme, the Authority

accepts that there should be no order for any further action.

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

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
15 May 1997

Appendix

Complainant D's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 20 February 1997

Complainant D of Christchurch complained to Television New Zealand Ltd that

Police Rescue, broadcast at 8.30pm on 23 January 1997, breached standards V6 and

V7 as it depicted a method of suicide which could be copied. It could particularly be

copied, she added, by people with a manic depressive disorder.

Complainant D, a member of the Manic Depressive Society, expanded on her

complaint in a letter to TVNZ dated 23 February. She claimed that the programme

also breached standard G12 in that it portrayed negatively the person shown with a

manic depressive illness. The negative characteristics included violence,

irresponsibility, promiscuity and dependency. She referred to the negative

stereotypes of people with paranoid schizophrenia used in entertainment, and

expressed concern that similar negative labels could be applied to those with manic

depression or bi polar depression. Referring to other television depictions of

psychotic individuals, she wrote in regard to people with manic depression:

To argue the legitimate context of the drama Police Rescue to screen such a

negative image, it has to be realised that of the 30,000 New Zealanders diagnosed

with the disorder not all display those casebook symptoms and behaviours,

certainly not all at once in a short period of time with NO portrayals of positive

behaviour. It would be inaccurate that viewers associated M.D. with ending in

suicide, having little control over their illness and not having enough stability in

their life to contribute positively to their families, their employers and other

people in the community. In fact most M.D. sufferers lead healthy productive

lives as long as they are given a chance to with appropriate support.

Complainant D said that the use of the term bi polar depression had been useful when

discussing her health, but she was concerned that the positive aspects of that name

were being eroded by its use in dramas and documentaries which advanced a negative

stereotype.

Expressing the need for community education, Complainant D recorded that it was a

painful effort to prepare the complaint in view of the stigma held about those who

suffered from a mental health disorder.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 14 March 1997

Assessing the complaint under standards V6 and V7, TVNZ recorded that the

complaint objected to showing, in a drama dealing with events leading to a young

woman's suicide, the method of suicide used.

As the methods shown involved, first, jumping from a high building, and secondly,

inhaling exhaust piped into a closed-up vehicle, TVNZ maintained that neither were

"ingenious" as required by standard V6. It declined to uphold that aspect.

However, on the basis that too much detail was shown of the method used to close up

the vehicle, the standard V7 aspect was upheld. TVNZ noted:

Your letter has led to considerable discussion here, and the appraisers

acknowledge that on this occasion some unacceptable material slipped through.

I would like to reassure you that TVNZ is very conscious of the care needed

when dealing with the theme of suicide. Very recently we removed a similar

scene from an episode of "Blue Heelers". You may be interested to know that

our appraisers view close to ten thousand programmes a year to ensure that they

comply with the programme standards. Lapses like this are rare, but your letter

prompts us to greater diligence.

Thank you for drawing this matter to TVNZ's attention. We apologise for

causing you distress.

Complainant D's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 13 April

1997

Dissatisfied with the decision on the standard V6 aspect, and dissatisfied with the

action taken after the standard V7 aspect was upheld, Complainant D referred her

complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting

Act 1989.

Dealing first with the action taken on the complaint, in view of the number of

depression related deaths in New Zealand, Complainant D argued that it was not

enough merely for TVNZ to say it was sorry.

Turning to the standard V6 aspect and emphasising the word "unfamiliar",

Complainant D contended that while knowledge of gassing might be common, the

programme showed aspects of the technique of gassing which many people would not

be familiar with. It allowed, she wrote, a person contemplating suicide by gassing a

greater chance of being successful.

Complainant D concluded:

As a manic depressive who has attempted suicide and was suicidal last year, I

find such information threatening. It is in my own strategies for self defence

against depression to be ignorant of methods about suicide.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority - 16 April 1997

TVNZ advised that it did not wish to comment further.

Complainant D's Final Comment - 22 April 1997

By telephone, Complainant D advised that she too did not wish to comment further.