Today Tonight report on Christian group breached TV code of practice rules ACMA

The media watchdog has ruled Channel Seven Sydney breached factual accuracy clauses of the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice in a story on Today Tonight which portrayed a Christian organisation as having prayed over a dying woman rather than getting medical help.

An investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that in reporting on the death of a female member of a the ‘Bruderhof’ organisation after suffering a stroke, the community and the woman’s son were portrayed by Today Tonight to have treated her with prayer and hymn singing as a substitute for medical care.

The segment proceeded despite a Medical Tribunal inquiry reporting, shortly before the story went to air, that the dying woman was given sympathetic and competent medical treatment in the form of palliative care, and the doctor’s decision was motivated by his belief that his mother would have elected not to receive aggressive medical treatment.

Seven has said it is “disappointed” in the ruling.