To wonder about reality tv documentaries like Ambulance, and consent?

[RozDoyle]

Tonight I watched Ambulance. I enjoyed it, thought it gave a really good insight into how utterly stretched the ambulance service is, and the impact of alcohol and drugs.

I was wondering though, how do they get the consent of the families involved to film their ordeal, when they don't know what calls they are going to?? Take the first call, Terrance with the cardiac arrest. Did they ask his poor panicking wife at the front door if the camera man could come in and film?? Also, the poor guy that fell into the pond. Obviously he couldn't have consented! I know they didn't show faces but it must have been fairly obvious to people in the local area who was involved.

Perhaps it's a daft question and I'm missing something. I just wondered. 24 Hours in A&E is another one. I mean One Born is different because you can get the parents' agreement in advance.

Btw, I was super impressed with the paramedics who worked on Terrance. They fought so hard!

I often think that too, and the woman who had her baby at home, she looked so scared and in so much pain. I'm amazed she agreed to have that shown on tv. I thought their discussion of the pond guy having maybe attempted suicide was a bit off. I hope all his family and close friends knew in advance that was going to be shown.
But it does show how difficult their jobs are. All credit to them.

They ask if it's ok for the film crew to film and have hours and hours of footage. When they decide which stories they want to use they ask for consent forms to be signed. They are very strict about it and have to follow a code of ethics in terms of how and when they ask

I also thought this- and the lady in labour in the bath, looked stressful enough without a camera crew filming you. I did think the programme was good at highlighting how hard those crews work. The crew who worked on Terrence were real life angels. So calm as well.

I cannot imagine a situation where my husband is potentially dying on the floor and I agree to a film crew being present. Different strokes indeed.

I was wondering about that too, with regards to Terrance and his wife. I also thought it seemed quite heartless (not really the right word) for the camera person and presumably other crew to be filming her watching her husband going through that. She looked so scared and I would have wanted to comfort her rather than film her distress.
However, the paramedics were truly amazing (as was his wife who kept him alive till they got there), they do a fantastic job under hard circumstances.

Oh that poor lady in the bath. She must have been absolutely terrified. How insanely stressful for the paramedics too. they were fab.

I often wonder this for shows like can't pay we will take it away etc... people's lives and personal misery out on the screen for all to see. Who would say yes to that?

I work in television & for these programmes there is a really strict protocol & consent needs to be obtained at various stages, obviously at the outset verbally, later whilst editing when a form will be signed & again before broadcast. Contributors are kept informed at all times & may be offered a viewing right, it's often a 3 tiered approach & duty of care is taken extremely seriously. Access to hospitals, NHS trusts, the police etc. takes months of careful negotiation where consent & privacy will be at the forefront. Obviously many people don't want to be involved - but a surprising number want to feature to help highlight the work of the NHS, for example.

That's really interesting

Loads of people don't consent and there are loads of opportunities to back out

I bloody love this programme. I was in awe at Terence's wife and the paramedics who kept him going until he got to hospital. Unbelievable that he made a full recovery. And I imagine that he would have been quite interested watching what happened to him.

Cried at the baby being born, so, so lovely! The paramedic's face was just wonderful, she was so happy to be handing over a healthy baby.

I think the guy who fell in the pond had no family, they did say that. Very sad that someone reaches their 80's and are so lonely that suicide is their only way out. I hope that it makes people think to take care of those around them.

All the NHS staff shown were amazing. Really great programme.

As someone who has judged Capacity (so have a understanding of people's States) and know under what conditions a Police confession/Statement can be discredited, wrongful account etc, a lot of people on those shows aren't capable in the moment asked, to give Consent.

Some people like to be a part of such things, but there will be a percentage that will feel very intruded upon.

My DD considered being on OBEM, it was the Trolls that put her off. She had two HBs and they were desperate, but previous participants had been ripped to bits online.

24 Hours in A&E have signs up in the waiting area etc informing patients that they are filming, they have staff available for patients and families to chat with and gain consent etc.

I am very impressed with the Ambulance series, it highlights the demand for the service and the time wasters so well. The lady who gave birth was fantastic.

The use of body worn cameras and improvements in technology makes it seem less intrusive to film. I suspect that it's not an entire film crew accompanying the ambulance, more one guy with a decent camera set up.

More frontline staff than ever are wearing body cameras to film where needed (ie, attacks on frontline staff, surveying an accident scene to show staff in ED etc). These series will only show a very very small percentage of cases that are filmed.