Much of the coverage of the death of Anna Nicole Smith represented another low point in journalism.
CNN, which has billed itself as âthe worldâs most important network,â? asked its senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, to comment on the death.
Wolf Blitzer introduced Gupta, saying, âTalk a little bit about what we know. A lot we don’t know, Sanjay, about the cause of her death.â?
Gupta led off saying, âThere’s a lot we don’t know as well.â?
Talk about a reason to stay tuned! But if you stayed tuned, you heard Gupta jumble together conjecture about âthe heart as being the most likely culpritâ? â“ followed by âWhy she would have heart problems? Not exactly sure.â?
He continued: âAlso lung problems. Could there have been some sort of a clot?… Could it have been some sort of medication problem?â?
Blitzer and Gupta then speculated about the flu, about her weight problem, about her addiction to painkillers, about a diet plan called Trimspa, about ephedra â“ much of it followed up with the reminder, âWhether that had anything to do with this, we don’t know as well.â?
So there you have it: virtual autopsy from long distance via speculation, rumors, and no direct knowledge of anything.
I am disappointed that Vioxx, Viagra, and the Virus of the West Nile were never mentioned.
As Blitzer introduced CNN anchor Jack Cafferty for another segment, Cafferty said: âIs Anna Nicole Smith still dead, Wolf?â?
BLITZER: âYes, we’re going to — updating our viewers coming up shortly on…â?
CAFFERTY: âI can’t wait for that.â?
Opinions on other issues in news, journals, PR, advertising, marketing
Puleeeeease... this 'game changer' weight loss drug causes more nausea and vomiting than a placebo. Some game, some change. My friend Gary would spank you for using the eighth word medical reporters should never, ever use. @garyschwitzer @thackerpd
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/toolkit/just-journalists-writing-tips-case-studies/7-words-and-more-you-shouldnt-use-in-medical-news/ https://twitter.com/OttawaCitizen/status/1361426796126830597
A scary @statnews Op-Ed warns that govt attempts to rein in Pharma may cut off access to "life-changing" drugs.
It takes @garyschwitzer to let us know: the author spent 10 years as Pfizer's public-policy chief. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1360325022578053123
.@TranspariMED criticizes STAT op-ed for not disclosing pharma funding of author’s institute - similar to criticism we’ve made of STAT op-eds in the past. @transparify @ThinkTankWatch @icer_review https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/02/transparency-watchdog-criticizes-stats-non-disclosure-on-pro-pharma-op-ed/
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