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?

@Shitfuckcommaetc

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

@Shitfuckcommaetc ^ Completely agree with you.

It's made me feel less alone too.

I'm really pleased Kate has found the strength to do this and highlight what lots of ordinary people are having to deal with. People who are lucky enough to have no experience of this don't realise there is no specific support for our families. None whatsoever. I'm pretty sure I can speak on behalf of all affected families, that the ITU family liaison nurses are it. Once our loved ones leave ITU there is nothing. There are charities like ICU steps but they are not specific for the unique set of challenges faced by ITU Covid patients, who are probably most similar to severe Guillain-Barré syndrome patients.

Many things resonated from the documentary, for eg. when your loved one is coming round from an induced coma (which can be quite lengthy with Covid), the "looking through blankly" on FaceTime visits is something all families in this situation, will identify with. Having to steer 2 children through this too takes some inner strength, I know all too well how deep Kate has had to dig to get through that.

Some really nasty comments on this thread, even from posters with ITU experience, but specific Covid ITU experience I note. Prolonged Covid ITU & it's aftermath-transition wards and rehabilitation hospitals ate absolutely unique, so please don't judge unless you've walked in our shoes. It's an experience I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

The people who know DD and his ability to consent, were on and behind the programme.

The idea that random Mnetters know better than his wife, his family and himself would be laughable, if it wasn't for the dreadful circumstances.

This thread is in very poor taste.

Having read others comments, you’re right. I haven’t been through this so my post was in poor taste and I sincerely apologise for it. Glad to hear that the documentary has helped others.

Well yes, I get the two signature thing. I'd be surprised if someone with her earning power would have something of that nature in place, that's all.

@cansu

What do other people do in they need nursing care? They ask social care for help.

Thing is, if you have money available, you can get the social care and support you want, rather than what the local authority provide or NHS will provide. Plus having enough money to make a wet room, ramps, convert a room downstairs as a bed room makes life much easier than being on a waiting list for alterations from a council.

I though the documentary was pretty well made, as others have said it was warm, not gushy. And I don't care whether she did it for money or not - I think there are a lot of people who would do something like that for the £ if it meant their loved one could come home safely, with the care and equipment they needed rather being stuck in one room, hoping that they get to the top of a waiting list waiting for adaptations to be done.

KG shone a light on the pressures that families feel when someone is in hospital for a long time, not clear if rehab means that they will have the same person back to them, or if there will be irreversible changes to personality and function and dealing with that great unknown. I hope it made some people feel less alone, less like they were the only one going through it.

@HolmeH

Did people actually watch the documentary? Or are we all judgemental twats on the internet. I think the latter.

I watched it and changed my mind during watching it. Went from being dubious about the consent to realising he had more capacity than I’d thought.

From what I’d previously read about him it sounded like he was pretty much still in a coma. From watching last night that’s blatantly not the case.

I think there are different levels of coma. Some of them include levels or periods of consciousness. To most of us it means constant unconsciousness, but I believe that it's a much wider term. I got the impression from the programme that the hospital would let her know when he had periods of consciousness so that she could talk to him.

'From what I’d previously read about him it sounded like he was pretty much still in a coma. From watching last night that’s blatantly not the case.'

Yes he is conscious with what seems like limited verbal responses.

Kate seems lovely, I'm absolutely not judging her at all, anyone whose relatives have faced extreme medical challenges would relate to how she is feeling. I just think perhaps the people advising her might have suggested she keep the footage until he is home, possibly neurologically improved and able to make a fully informed decision on whether he wanted it broadcast.

Also where were the the face covers and social distancing with the nurse they visited?

I have no idea about Kate Garraway’s financial situation but from the programme, she is spending a lot of money adapting the house to be suitable for him and when he is discharged, she said she will probably have to give up work to care for him.

So she may have a high earning job now. She may have lots of savings now. If this programme was about making money, she’s probably thinking of the difficult future she probably faces.

Of course it may be nothing to do with money. It may have helped her process what has happened to her to make this programme.

I really find some of the judgment on this thread of a woman in horrific circumstances to be pretty unpleasant.

I’ve just watched it. I have nothing but admiration for them both.

@fizbosshoes

Slightly off topic but right from the start, I've been surprised at the amount of tv footage from hospitals. I know it is the main news story and they need to get across how ill people were and how serious things had got. BUT when drs and nurses and HCP were in the middle of what was like a war zone and no visitors were allowed on wards I always wondered how helpful it was to have Fergus Walsh and co, with camera crew, wafting around every few days, filming and possibly getting in the way overworked medical staff. Saying how dangerous and contagious it was ....but then going in with reporters and camera crew. And if you were a relative that saw a reporter in the same room as your loved one who you couldnt visit...?

Some of the people Fergus Walsh interviewed insisted on being on camera. It was the medical staff who were treating them who either didn't let them or limited the time they could talk for.

There were a few people who talked but didn't allow the camera to film their faces as they didn't want their OAP parent who was in a care home to see them on the news.

Watched it now. There was actually very little of him in it.

I'm doing the latest training on consent and I find it fascinating.

I know this is very serious issue, and I'm sorry for being so petty, but I just couldn't get over her house. She had so much stuff!

My overriding feeling was that she was an amazing, relatable lady. I wish the family all the luck in the world.

If he is able to consent to this programme why can't he deal with the joint account things?

I hit on it by accident last night and thought it was a fascinating and moving watch. The insight into the reality of the effects of COVID was really thought-provoking. I thought Kate was warm and relatable.

I have nothing to say other than I really wish them well. There's clearly a lot of love in that family.

@DareIask

If he is able to consent to this programme why can't he deal with the joint account things?

He can articulate a yes or no and few words when lucid. Remembering a password and answering security questions, having the dexterity to sign his name, holding a conversation with an unfamiliar person on the phone may well be beyond him. At one point Kate salvaged a whiteboard to preserve a memory of his handwriting.

I have reported this thread ..... Lots of vile comments from vile people

have reported this thread ..... Lots of vile comments from vile people

Or just comments that don't agree with yours.

@LIZS a person needs to be able to demonstrate they understand the whole picture and their choices to be considered competent... that they are giving informed consent.

Having just watched it I found it interesting. I think there was a lot of knowledge to b gained from it She comes across as a very open person with huge tenacity and I admire her for keeping going in such difficult times. I am however uncomfortable with seeing derek in such a distressed state at times and wonder what is to be gained from that, it felt voyeuristic in such personal circumstances. Not sure on this one.

Just finished. Thought it was an amazing documentary, it really was.
I really don't believe everyone on here has watched it or if they have, they saw what I saw. I wish them both all the luck in the world. The fact that they are keeping him until this December - 21 months in hospital, is testament to how far he still has to go but her grace under pressure inspires me to be better and quit complaining.

@Ahbahbahbah

She has said that he’s “in and out” in terms of how lucid he is, and he still has capacity. She isn’t able to access his accounts or anything because he is still deemed to be able to run his own affairs. So I assume at some point he has given consent for this.

Maybe she needs to keep the children in schools with friends and the home they know. Plus she'll be conscious when he comes home that he'll need care - all on one salary.

I haven’t watched it, feels a bit intrusive but I wish them the very best.

I don’t imagine I will watch for those reasons. But possibly that’s because I’m being a coward and don’t want to know how tough it is.

I did find it upsetting seeing him so vulnerable in the clips advertising it, after years of seeing his very self confident posturing on various issues (which I would generally disagree with) but I wish them both nothing but the best and admire their strength in fighting through it all and their obvious joy they share of both of their children.

Whatever works for them is fine and would never judge anyone. If it helps them find more strength, then good for them. It is desperately sad and Kate is finding a way forward for the whole family.

In awe really, I know others have also had to summon the strength Kate has and same goes to them. To see the person you love so vulnerable, it is difficult on so many levels.

I work in a hospital, not in ICU or with covid patients.
A covid patient was filmed (with consent) leaving ICU after a long time. The video was shared on our staff FB page and local news.
We had a lot of discussions between colleagues in my ward afterwards about whether it was appropriate - I don't think the patient could have given informed consent after such a prolonged illness. Others felt the video wasn't enough and that the patient should have been given the red carpet treatment.
The conflicting views were interesting - was it news, was it propaganda or was it invasion of privacy?

I watched it last night - it must be so distressing for Kate to see Derek in tears and not be able to be with him. He is obviously conscious now and the time must drag for him in hospital - hopefully he sleeps for a lot of it. I felt quite hopeful for him - his progress over the course of the documentary to saying he loved her at her end seemed like there was a lot of potential there. I’ve always liked Kate and she came across really well in the jungle and is always spoken of really highly by her colleagues.
I actually don’t think she will be swimming in wealth - the house is fairly modest, albeit probably worth a lot in London and she may have a high income but she is freelance and a good percentage of her income will go to agents fees. She’s probably not that much better off than most middle class people in London but looking at a hugely uncertain financial future.