The controversy of the report of TV3
On March 30, 2025, Catalan public television, TV3, issued an episode of the “30 minutes” program entitled ‘The good death’, which has raised an intense debate on the ethics of media coverage on sensitive issues such as euthanasia. Instead of presenting a balanced approach, the report seemed to adopt a stance that glorified assisted death as an acceptable and even desirable solution.
A one-dimensional story
With a seductive narrative style and careful production, the report presented euthanasia as an act of freedom, without exploring the complex aspects that surround life and death. The absence of opposite voices and lack of debate set aside alternatives as palliative care, as well as the experiences of families who accompany their loved ones at the end.
The silence of dissident voices
Critics, such as the Christian social current, have expressed concern about the lack of plurality in the presentation of the subject. They argue that the report violated the ethical commitment of public television to represent a diversity of perspectives.
The construction of a new cultural narrative
The way death is presented can significantly influence social perception. In Catalonia, the approach of public television to euthanasia could be contributing to a culture that devalues vulnerable life, promoting the idea that the solution to difficulties is the extinction of life itself.
A crisis of values
The presentation of death as an acceptable option can lead to a deep reflection on its intrinsic value. Contemporary philosophers have warned that normalizing assisted death can trigger social pressures and moral dilemmas that affect human dignity.
The responsibility of public television
The responsibility of a public broadcaster goes beyond the simple dissemination of information. When a taboo is broken like death, you risk normalizing a reality that can have devastating consequences for the most vulnerable. Television must be a debate forum, not a vehicle to impose ideologies.
A call to action
The declaration of the Christian social current urges a parliamentary investigation and an action by the Catalan Ombudsman to ensure that various voices have a place in the debate on life and death. Society must be alert and defend the rights of the weakest, remembering that true civilization is measured by how it takes care of its most vulnerable members.
Final reflections
It is essential that society recognizes that life is not a good that can be administered as a consumer product. The right to be accompanied to the end is a fundamental part of human dignity. Public television has to reflect on its role and avoid converting issues as delicate as death into a sensationalist show.