The new fad among TV news networks is employing doctors to masquerade as reporters or TV correspondents. While this can be considered an acceptable movement, there are ethical implications that come with the job.

One well-known medical correspondent is Sanjay Gupta from CNN. Among his many videos, there is one that specifically calls to mind the “doctor as reporter” debate. On the one hand, Dr. Gupta is performing a humane act for a 12-year old Haitian girl. On the other, he is broadcasting his dramatics over the internet as a form of praise for himself. Stephen J.A. Ward, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin’s journalism school, comments on this in an article from The Washington Post.

The debate can be expanded by stating that the posting of these videos are mainly for promotional reasons. A blog by Pia Christensen further explains this topic. I believe this to be a legitimate argument against doctors posing as reporters. It illustrates that there is a gray area between the job of a doctor and the job of a journalist for the TV medical correspondent. While the intention of a video can be for informational purposes, it can stir up conflict from the public. Therefore, the posting of videos must be done carefully and meticulously.

To offer a balanced view, the duel role of doctor-reporter can have many positive attributes to it. For someone who has a passion for both medicine and journalism and wishes to fuse both of those professions is very commendable. Moreover, the ability to create a field such as medical correspondence can be helpful as well as informational to those who truly need help and to those who have a curiosity for medicine and its benefits. More on this view from this 1991 article from The New York Times.