The death of Michel Blanc saddens us all, and inevitably, with the announcement of the sudden disappearance of one of the French’s favorite actors, we all ask ourselves the same question: what happened to him? It didn’t take much for the rumor machine to get going, getting carried away throughout the weekend based on a few elements released by loved ones. Elements themselves subsequently contradicted, doctors having disclosed what appear to be the real causes of death.
But did we really want to have all the details of the sequence that led to the artist’s death? Should they be revealed? The question arises all the more in the present case since this “information” was likely to generate unfounded fears among the general public, regarding medical examinations and routine care. Fears which have no reason to exist, as fatal allergic reactions are both extremely rare and completely unpredictable.
Should we remember it? Medical confidentiality remains a principle that applies to doctors and all caregivers (nurses, physiotherapists, etc.), and it does not cease when the patient dies. The media are required to respect privacy. Under these conditions, the causes of people’s illness or death should not be treated like any other information. The response to the public’s questions should undoubtedly not justify breaking with these principles, even less to elaborate endlessly on facts, which are, moreover, unverified.