The reporting of the first case of infection with the novel coronavirus in Moldova during the past three days revealed a fault in the way in which the media outlets treat the victims of situations with a negative connotation. The Press Council draws media professionals’ attention to the fact that the journalists are obliged to protect the persons in negative situations about whom they relate, in particular when it is about victims, discrimination or other risks, IPN reports.

In a public appeal, the Press Council says that amid negative currents in public opinion about the infected woman, who is aggressively accused of consciously bringing the virus to Moldova, one of the doctors and the President revealed the woman’s name to the press, exposing her to more attacks and insults. One day earlier, the woman’s son made statement for the press, but didn’t disclose his mother’s name so as to protect the family from new sufferings.

The Press Council determined that some of the editorial offices transmitted President Dodon’s statements without revealing the patient’s name. In other cases, the woman’s name was made public, the law on the protection of personal data and the journalistic deontological norms being violated.

The Press Council reminds that both the Medical Worker’s Deontological Code (Article 55) and the Journalist’s Deontological Code of the Republic of Moldova (Article 3.13) contain explicit provisions about the method of publishing information about patients or victims of situations with a negative connotation. In both of the cases, emphasis is placed on the respect for human dignity and the obligation not to cause harm.

The Council warns about the deontological obligation to discourage hate speech among the people in accordance with the Deontological Code (Article 2.40).