RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How the public responded to the Schiavo controversy: evidence from letters to editors
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 571
OP 573
DO 10.1136/jme.2010.037804
VO 36
IS 9
A1 Eric Racine
A1 Marta Karczewska
A1 Matthew Seidler
A1 Rakesh Amaram
A1 Judy Illes
YR 2010
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/36/9/571.abstract
AB The history and genesis of major public clinical ethics controversies is intimately related to the publication of opinions and responses in media coverage. To provide a sample of public response in the media, this paper reports the results of a content analysis of letters to editors published in the four most prolific American newspapers for the Schiavo controversy. Opinions expressed in the letters sampled strongly supported the use of living wills and strongly condemned public attention to the case as well as political interventions. Letters tended to be against withdrawal of life support, proxy consent and associated procedures as well as against court decisions and legal procedures. In comparison with reports written by journalists, letters to editors contained fewer controversial claims about Schiavo''s neurological condition and behavioural repertoire but similar loaded language to describe withdrawal of life support. Distinct public discourses can be encountered in different stakeholders suggesting complex and extensive pluralism even within the media.