New Zealanders have recently been provided with an interesting opportunity to observe corporate media squirm with discomfort, demonstrate blind faith, ignorance and lack of curiosity, obfuscate, omit and fabricate as well as let slip a few truths. And all this with respect to a tiny baby with the most piercing and wise blue eyes.
The reasonable concerns of Baby W’s parents
Baby W needed heart surgery and his parents were asking for the precautionary principle to apply and wanted their son to have blood from donors who had not been vaccinated against covid-19. Not because they were convinced the blood was dangerous, but because there was a possibility that there could be problems with the blood and there was a safer alternative.
They had reasonable questions and concerns that were not addressed satisfactorily by the medical professionals involved in his case.
“Trust the experts”
The family engaged the services of lawyer Sue Grey, who was somewhat reluctantly interviewed by a few mainstream media “journalists.” Media Watch on Sunday seemed to admit that censorship can only go so far and perhaps censoring the lawyer involved in a case might overstep the mark: “It was probably not realistic to ban Grey from media appearances under those circumstances.”
Some journalists, therefore, had to step up to the plate and do the deed. Corin Dann on Morning Report had a go and got increasingly agitated as he tried repeatedly to insist that, as he and Sue were both lay people, they should just trust the experts and not consider or discuss the questions.
“There is no conversation to be had when the medical experts, and the medical professionals in this country, in just about every country in the world, when the WHO, are adamant there is no risk here” and “Oh, come on I’m sorry, were not going to have that discussion.”
Then, referring to the surgeons who accepted the blood bank’s unfounded reassurances, “They accept the truth that there is no risk here.” It felt a bit like observing a child putting its fingers in its ears and going “La la la la, I don’t want to listen.”
Another one who was brave enough to speak to Sue was Heather du Plessis-Allen: “Sue Sue Sue I don’t want to go into your beliefs on this one, let’s just stick to the facts. I’ve got to be honest, I just can’t go there. I cannot be bothered…”
Perhaps the advice from Stewart Sowman-Lund of The Spinoff would have been better received in advance. Referring to Sue, Sowman-Lund suggested: “Those interviewing her should either be fully prepared to counter – in detail – her anti-vaccination rhetoric or – given the likelihood it will quickly descend into conspiracy territory – cut it off early.
A quote springs to mind here: “The truth does not mind being questioned; whereas a lie does not like being challenged.”
If Corin and Heather were so sure of their positions and knew the science supported them, surely they could articulate their points in a discussion with Sue without having to resort to cancelling her, talking over her and shutting her down. Corin was obviously threatened by the fact Sue is not actually a layperson on this matter. He tried on several occasions to ignore or belittle the science qualifications – a BSc with a double major in microbiology and biochemistry, and a diploma in public health inspection – she has in addition to her legal ones – (LLB (Hons) – as well as her knowledge and expertise, but he ended up sounding rather pathetic and petulant.
Read More: New Zealand: Corporate media’s “trust the experts” and other lies
