Derek Draper - an invasion of privacy?

[Montespan]

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?

I suppose Kate think's, that because she is quite famous, that people would clamour to see and hear all about Derek,and all about her personal exper snces since Derek became seriously ill.. But I didn't think that she would have been the type of woman, who would have divulged so much personal information, or show any views of him right now, So can only think, that it for money purposes. What she is doing, is not going to help anyone.

Haven't seen it yet, so will watch first.

What she is doing, is not going to help anyone

It's helped me.
Until you've been through something similar, you just cant imagine the the absolute torture of having someone you love in this situation.
Without being able to see them, hold them, without being able to have proper support from friends and family.
The isolation of it. Feeling so alone

I think she's an amazing, brave lady.
I related so much to everything she's going through and for a while, didn't feel so alone

It does feel intrusive on Derek and his dignity. Very personal stuff.

I can’t believe the comments on this thread. I will make the same post as I did on the other ridiculously judgy thread.

I think she is marvellous. What a lovely warm normal lady she is. I think she has done an important job in raising awareness of the truth of long COVID. I also think as his wife and next of kin she knows best as to what is or isn’t in his and their best interests. So many people making self-righteous assumptions here. I fully applaud her and wish him all the best.

@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.

This.

@LaurieFairyCake

He will definitely have given consent for this

Oh please! He doesn't have capacity!

The whole thing makes me deeply uncomfortable.

Umbivalent

Did you watch it?

I believe he does have capacity.

How on earth in one hour documentary where he was filmed 3-4 times do you work out that he doesn’t have capacity.

He has capacity to understand that his grimacing, crying face is being shown on national TV and on all UK news websites? OK!

This is all very judgemental, and surprising that you all know Derek and what he would want better than his own family

Does everything have to be shared?

He has capacity to understand that his grimacing, crying face is being shown on national TV and on all UK news websites? OK

Yes Umbivalent that's what I think. It does cross a line and intrudes into Derek's dignity and privacy. Instinctively I feel it's too personal.

I'm not really a fan of hers but thought she came across really well and normal ! I liked the fact she had a messy house, messy hair etc it was quite refreshing to see a celebrity in their normal environment.

I find it way too personal.

She must have plenty of money so keeping the wolf from the door is hardly her experience! I am pretty sure she is living mortgage free and has plenty of savings!

@StarCat2020

I thought this every time the news showed a patient in ICU and then made a point of saying that their family had given their consent.

Yes this thought goes through my head everytime too.

@LizzieSiddal

The bits I’ve seen in the media are just heartbreaking and agree it’s a gross invasion of privacy.

She could have told her story of this year without showing him in hospital.

Actually I disagree. The amount of footage of Derek was relatively small and certainly not graphic, just as illustration of where they were at at the time. The children chose to be in shot or not, wandering in and out. I'm not a KG follower but their story has struck a chord as have comparatively momentarily faced similar situation, felt similarly and did many of same things just to keep going. Wish them luck but fear it will be a difficult road yet.

@LaurieFairyCake

He will definitely have given consent for this

I feel like they should make that clear at the start of the programme.

I think she cane across incredibly well, what an amazing woman holding everything together in the most appalling circumstances.

One thing I don’t get though, people on here have said she can’t access joint savings accounts ... surely if they are joint that wouldn’t be an issue!

One of the most important things about informed consent is not to enforce what you think on the party. It is up to Derek whether he chooses to consent, and to Kate as to whether that is within character for him, and whether she considers he has given informed consent. Everything else is just speculation, do not assume that just because you wouldn't do it but he doesn't want to do it. Obviously it goes the other way as well.

If you don't feel comfortable, then don't watch it, but that's a different thing

But he doesn't know what he looks like. He doesn't know what his crying, grimacing face looks like.

@Skyliner001

If you don't feel comfortable, then don't watch it, but that's a different thing

Unfortunately the most distressing clip/image of him is on a lot of media websites.

I think the real reason some people have a real problem with this is because they are the ones who just want covid to 'go away'. They don't want anything highlighting how bad it can actually be whilst trying to convince themselves and others that this has all been a over reaction and we are being 'controlled'.

I think it is worth pointing out that while Derek's situation is due to covid and extreme, this is a situation faced by many icu survivors from all sorts of illness and trauma and their families, to one degree or another. It can take months or longer to recover from even a short stay, with potentially life changing consequences. The nurse, Carmen, interviewed with Michael Rosen last week stated that discharge from icu is just the beginning.