TV abortion film’s timing criticised

Press, 16 January 1979, Page 17

TV abortion film’s timing criticised

PA ' Wellington The Broadcasting Tribunal has upheld, in part, two complaints against a programme on Abortion, screened on TVl’s “Good Day” in July.

It also criticised the timing of the programme, on July 7 at 1 p.m. during the school mid-term vacation.

The programme should have presented more than one opinion on the safety of the abortion method discussed, said the tribunal’s chairman (Mr B. H. Slane). The tribunal rejected criticism that the programme was in bad taste, and that it was scientifically incorrect or misleading, he said. The programme showed a film on abortion in Sydney. An English obstetrician and | gynaecologist, working in [New Zealand, described the I suction method shown as safe if used before 10 weeks of pregnancy. He did not discuss the risks. Messrs Kevin McNamara and Duncan Armstrong complained, several days afterwards, that the programme was unbalanced and in bad taste. Mr McNamara said the

English doctor’s opinion was misleading and scientifically incorrect, and Mr Armstrong said other aspects of abortion should have been mentioned. Mr Slane said that material submitted to the tribunal made it clear that the doctor’s opinion did not adequately express the fact that the suction method carried risks. The risks should have been mentioned, either by the interviewer or by a consultative panel. The tribunal suggested the! point be covered briefly in another programme. Mr Slane said the Broadcasting Corporation had accepted that the transmission of the programme on a day when some schools were closed for the mid-term vacation was a genuine error, and that when discovered, hurried efforts were made to stop the programme. A careful check would be kept on dates cin future. Since the complaints were considered, TVI had adopted the policy that all programmes on abortion be referred first to the Controller

of Programmes, who could refer them to the DirectorGeneral if necessary.