Aussie broadcaster apologizes for mistakenly linking personalities' deaths to COVID-19

By bellecarter // 2022-11-28

Mastodon

Parler

Gab

Copy

A broadcaster in Australia has issued an apology for mistakenly linking the deaths of two personalities to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Norman Swan of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) originally attributed the deaths of Kimberly Kitching, federal senator for Victoria state, and cricketer Shane Warne to COVID-19 infection. Swan, who hosts "RN's Health Report" on ABC, remarked it was "too much of a coincidence" that both died "not long after a COVID-19 infection." He continued: "People are reporting sudden deaths after a COVID-19 infection. It's not benign." However, both of them were actually suspected to have died from sudden heart attacks in March. Kitching and Warne, both 52 years of age at the time of passing, were vaccinated. (Related: Media absurdly insists COVID shots are "safe and effective" as vaccine injuries and deaths mount.) According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the broadcaster had a phone call with Kitching's widower Andrew Landeryou, who had texted Swan to complain. "I apologized profusely," Swan said. "Clearly he was very upset. And I was devastated that it had that impact on the family. I didn't say [it] casually and if I thought it would hurt either family, I wouldn't have said it." The ABC journalist was later forced to apologize, a move "ABC News Breakfast" host Michael Rowland confirmed. According to Australia's national broadcaster, Swan's "unfounded" remarks could constitute a breach of editorial standards. "Dr. Swan says he personally apologized to Senator Kitching's husband yesterday and that he made an error that he regrets," Rowland said. "I 100 percent accept that I got it wrong," Swan told Guardian Australia. "And no matter what the context, I can't escape the fact that I hurt the family. I apologize for that and feel terrible about it."

Critics blast Swan for "irresponsible" COVID alarmism

To some critics, what Swan did as a health resource person and broadcaster, was unforgivable and grossly irresponsible. Dr. Nick Coatsworth, former federal deputy chief medical officer, said it wasn't Swan's "best moment in the pandemic." He remarked during a radio interview: "You can't go wrong if you just avoid making assumptions about individuals and speculating about causes of death, particularly when they were both so tragic." Later on, he tweeted: "At the end of the day, the only conclusion we can reach is that you can't be 'Australia’s most trusted doctor,' if you haven’t seen a patient since the 1980s. The ABC may wish to reflect on that." Meanwhile, radio show host Ben Fordham slammed Swan during his radio show "Ben Fordham Live," emphasizing that doctors should be careful about commenting on medical matters when "you have no knowledge of the patient or the circumstance." "Speculating is disrespectful and dangerous," Fordham added. "He should be ashamed of himself." In response, Swan called Fordham's comments "complete bullshit." "I got it wrong with Kimberley Kitching and I regret that, but the data are the data and if Ben Fordham wants to go and pretend that this is a benign disease that doesn't cause any problems he's living in cloud-cuckoo-land," replied Swan, who had been with the ABC for about 40 years. Visit Journalism.news for more stories about irresponsible journalism. Watch this video about Kitching announcing her COVID-19 vaccination, which likely caused her untimely death. This video is from the Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

CITIZENS NEWS

Critics blast Swan for "irresponsible" COVID alarmism

More related stories: