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Original poster

Derek Draper - an invasion of privacy?

192 replies

Montespan · 23/03/2021 18:09

I’ve been a bit horrified by the trailer I’ve seen for Kate Garraway’s documentary about her husband’s struggle with coronavirus. It included a shot of him in hospital.

I see Kate Garraway has said that given his interest in mental health, her husband would want his journey to be shared. But, is it ethical or even legal to rely on assumed consent to having such very personal information - and even footage -shared?

I do appreciate his wife means well, and has been through a lot - but i really can’t see how Derek Draper had the capacity to give informed consent to this, and in the absence of consent I don’t see how itv can show this.

Disclosure- a big part of the reason I’m so horrified by this is that I myself have been near death in intensive care (some years ago). I would have been utterly aghast if footage of me distressed & in pain had been shared. Horrified. Appalled. Humiliated. The experience was such a deeply personal one, for me & my family. Not one for the public to gawp at.

It worries me that a tv company can have such a cavalier approach to consent and privacy in a medical setting. Does anyone share these views?

OP posts:
Fridget · 23/03/2021 20:49

After the year she has had, I am not going to judge her. She knows him best and I have no reason to think she is acting other than with the best of intentions.

FigDate · 23/03/2021 20:53

Kate and Derek have mostly maintained privacy over the many years she has been in the media. Kate feels a responsibility to open up to show people the effects of covid on her family to keep in their minds the seriousness of the pandemic. It is also a way of coping with a very stressful and upsetting situation. She has said recently that she has struggled financially over the last year and friends have helped. I am interested to hear their story. If you’re not interested then don’t watch. I think she’s been brilliant throughout and don’t know how she interviews politicians about decisions they made whilst remaining so professional, when so personally affected. Well done Kate.

Tigerchips · 23/03/2021 20:55

Why's everyone suddenly adopted the phrase "wolf from the door" for this thread?

Bizarre

bevelino · 23/03/2021 20:57

@UnderHisAye

I just wonder why anyone is even interested, apart from their family and friends?

More than 126k people dead, but this is the DM headline at least a few days a week.

This.

There are so many people who have died from covid and other illnesses but DM have an obsession with this story every other day.

Haenow · 23/03/2021 20:59

I don’t wish to judge people’s motives for being on these programmes. They’re often difficult viewing but it’s the reality of how some people are. I’m a very private person so it wouldn’t be for me but I understand why people want to raise awareness.

Teenageromance · 23/03/2021 20:59

On the money front - Kate is like many tv presenters in that she is self employed. So if she isn’t working she doesn’t get paid. She was off for months when derek was first very ill. So she isn’t necessarily swimming in money

GreyhoundG1rl · 23/03/2021 21:01

@Haenow

I don’t wish to judge people’s motives for being on these programmes. They’re often difficult viewing but it’s the reality of how some people are. I’m a very private person so it wouldn’t be for me but I understand why people want to raise awareness.
Raise awareness of what, exactly?!
WithTeaTree · 23/03/2021 21:01

I agree, I saw the clip and it felt intrusive. I didn’t feel very comfortable watching it for that reason and probably won’t watch the documentary.

GreyhoundG1rl · 23/03/2021 21:02

Kate feels a responsibility to open up to show people the effects of covid on her family to keep in their minds the seriousness of the pandemic.
How do people write such utter bilge?

Dorchester · 23/03/2021 21:05

Personally I don’t like the idea at all. It is an invasion of privacy IMO if someone can’t speak for themselves. It’s akin to people saying what someone would have done or said in a certain situation but they are deceased. So how do they know what they would have done or said? It infuriates me.
Similar also to people that think it’s ok to document people with Alzheimer’s on film without them really knowing what’s going on.

HerMammy · 23/03/2021 21:07

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Redcrayons · 23/03/2021 21:12

I felt the same as you, I’d be horrified in his position.

But kate knows him best so presumably she thinks this is the best thing under the circumstances.

ImpatiensI · 23/03/2021 21:14

She seems very attention seeking over this

That is so harsh, but sadly I think you're right. I'm not comfortable about the children being brought into it either.

1two1two · 23/03/2021 21:16

@FigDate

Kate and Derek have mostly maintained privacy over the many years she has been in the media. Kate feels a responsibility to open up to show people the effects of covid on her family to keep in their minds the seriousness of the pandemic. It is also a way of coping with a very stressful and upsetting situation. She has said recently that she has struggled financially over the last year and friends have helped. I am interested to hear their story. If you’re not interested then don’t watch. I think she’s been brilliant throughout and don’t know how she interviews politicians about decisions they made whilst remaining so professional, when so personally affected. Well done Kate.
^ I agree.
halllftheworllldawway · 23/03/2021 21:24

I doubt this programme would have been allowed to be broadcast if he wasn't able to give his consent to show images of him.

She's an incredible woman, going through an extraordinarily difficult and painful time. While of course she isn't the only one dealing with covid related trauma, her situation is quite unique given the amount of time he has been hospitalised and subsequently unable to function.

Give her a break. Maybe she just wants to share their story. Help others going through similar. Maybe she does need money. Maybe she wants to reach out to people who understand what she's going through.

Nomorepies · 23/03/2021 21:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

ImpatiensI · 23/03/2021 21:36

Does everything have to be 'shared'? Does everything have to be fodder for media?

PurpleWh1teGreen · 23/03/2021 21:40

@Fridget

After the year she has had, I am not going to judge her. She knows him best and I have no reason to think she is acting other than with the best of intentions.
This. They both work in the media and understand the power of human stories. Good on both of them for doing this.
Dowser · 23/03/2021 21:43

I think it’s dreadful and won’t be watching and I’d be horrified if anyone did that to me.
When dad was in icu, after being revived after being dead for about 45 minutes, so was in a vegetative coma, after family and very close friends had been to say their goodbyes, I said to mum, that’s enough now
No one else comes.
There was no point.
The thought of screening his last days was abhorrent

dogsbeard · 23/03/2021 21:48

I am so glad Kate has shared this for families like mine who are going the exact same thing.

dogsbeard · 23/03/2021 21:49

*through

GreyhoundG1rl · 23/03/2021 21:50

@dogsbeard

I am so glad Kate has shared this for families like mine who are going the exact same thing.
Why?
Literallynoidea · 23/03/2021 21:52

I agree with you OP

abeanbaked · 23/03/2021 21:53

It is pretty horrifying to watch but seeing as he has been able to talk for some time now, I assume he has given his consent to this being shown. They are incredibly brave for this, I'm an nhs nurse and thought I had seen the devastation of covid but I've honestly never seen someone looking as scared as he does in some of these clips. It is one of the most harrowing things I've seen on tv.

CovidCorvid · 23/03/2021 21:55

@Tigerchips

Why's everyone suddenly adopted the phrase "wolf from the door" for this thread?

Bizarre

Because one person used it initially and other people are responding to that.... You know like in a conversation?