posted on March 4, 2001 04:17:07 PM new
I have been reading about the Dale Earnhardt photos being released and the family not wanting them to be. I have mixed feelings. I don't believe that famous people should be given special rights alive or dead and I understand the meaning behind the law of public information. However I find the thought of some sick minded lesser form of humanity posting them on the internet for the purposes of charging for their viewing to be disgusting. So folks, what should I be thinking here? Does the wife have a right to ask for an exception here? Or should the law be changed etc????
http://ballsandstrikescollectibles.beckett.com/
posted on March 4, 2001 04:39:06 PM new
Common people who have passed on have their ssn posted for the public viewing. However the rich and famous peeps don't. I don't agree with this practice. My loved ones are just as important than a famous person.
I think that the photos of anyone should not be public.
As many of you seen such pics on the internet as I have and I wonder what if that was my loved one?
Of course, we all are aware aren't we that such things always find a way out through the black market.
posted on March 4, 2001 04:41:10 PM new
hi mr b ~ hope your games went well!
IMHO, anyone making a profit off of an unforunate tragedy should have their fingernails ripped off. What possible benefit could there be from making these photos public(other than financial)?
IF
it was something that the family wanted to share, I could understand. For example, MADD places vehicles, photos, whatever they can to try and drive home their message. Drunk driving kills. It almost a public service announcement, paid for by the grief and suffering they must relive to raise awareness in hopes that others can be spared by their actions. It is these families choice to share their information and heartache and it is done for reasons other than personal (financial) gain.
but that's just my opinion!
posted on March 5, 2001 05:51:59 AM new
To me this is medical information. Does the right to privacy of medical information end at the person's death? This should no more be public than their medical records from their doctor's office.
posted on March 5, 2001 06:13:02 AM new
I agree famous or not, the photos were taken during a medical procedure, dead or alive, they should be keep confidential. There should be no question. Or the only question is if they are being used in a trial, that is different. But I sure would not want any of my loved ones photos like that put up for display or even available if some sick person wanted to be discusting. Dale Earnhardt was like a member of alot of nascar families. I still can not believe he is gone and I am behind Teresa 100%, this is not what she should be having to at this time. I wish her all the luck at keeping her husbands photos private. We miss you Dale. Good Luck Teresa and Dale Jr.
Fluffy & Family
posted on March 5, 2001 02:09:55 PM new
Definitely private, for him and for everybody else. The only ones who woould need to see something like that would be in a murder trial or something of that nature.
posted on March 13, 2001 05:56:07 PM new
The hearing will be held March 19th, 2001.
There is legislation being worked on now and this very reasonably could be heard before the US Supreme court. The legislation is intended to be retroactive to the Earnhardt case...a questionable practise.
As a NASCAR fan with a whole lot of family that I would not want their autopsy films public...I am personally divided on this issue. IF the Orlando Sentinel has stated it's true purpose for wanting to view these pictures...it may well be justified. Four drivers dead within 9 months is not a good thing.
posted on March 13, 2001 06:35:24 PM new
A family is grieving over the tragic loss of a loved one. I'm sure that releasing the autopsy photos to the public will help to hasten the grieving process. NOT! Legal or not it's disgusting and shameful.
posted on March 13, 2001 07:07:26 PM new
Ummm... that really is not the issue here.
By law, in the state of Flordia, autopsy pictures are available under the freedom of information act. They have been for some time. The pictures are not included as medical info (in Flordia), but are public record.
Theresa Earnhardt legally requested that her husbands autopsy photos not be made available, but rather be sealed. The justice ruled that there was nothing to be gained by the release of the photos, but the following day the Orlando requested a copy of them, which they said they wanted viewed by a head injury expert to determine the cause of death.
They brought up a "greater good" to be done by the release of the photos. In addition several other publications have since requested to view the photos too.
Theresa Earnhardt is grieving...she does not want these photos published on uploaded to an internet site for general public viewing. I do not blame her. I am sure that the entire thing is causing her and the four Earnhardt children great emotional pain.
However, the Orlando Sun ran an article on racing safety related to NASCAR, (which as a private entity decides which if any safety devises to use. This was run just prior to the Datona 500, in which Dale Earnhart was killed on February 18th. It included the deaths of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin and Tony Roper. Inexperience and stuck throttles were blamed, though they all had basalier skull injuries and a common cause of death. But there is no way in hell that the Intimidator was inexperienced...yet apparently he died of the same type of injury.
If viewing the photos can possibly serve to improve safety and prevent the deaths of more NASCAR drivers...I am all for it. I do not want Theresa Earnhardt pained, but if it is a choice between a small amount of additional grief now for her than the death of another driver causing untold grief for many of us...including her...later, by God, I say do it!
If it continues the way it has been...it will be a death blow to the "sport".
**Disclaimer: If I appear arguementive, then I probably am just being a #*!@ today. It comes & goes. C.
posted on March 14, 2001 07:06:12 AM new
Dale Earnhardt died in a tragic racing accident. He hit a concrete wall at approximately 180 MPH. Why would anyone need to see photos of the aftermath of this? I feel terrible for the Earnhardt family and for Kenny Schrader. Kenny saw what the Sentinel wants to see. Showing the autopsy photos will not help anyone except some freek who finds humor in this situation.
posted on March 14, 2001 07:46:30 AM new
There are freaks out there. Some of whom like carnage. There are also people that use accident results to figure out how to avoid future similar results.
Once is a tragic accident. Four times within nine months without instituting preventative measures should be a crime. Employers have an obligation to those that they earn their money from. NASCAR earns their money because the drivers race.
There is technology available to cushion the blow. The walls don't need to be concrete.
The A frame of the cars is reinforced with a bar. The location of the bar makes the car very rigid...with very little crumple zone. This is avoidable...but the current way gives better speeds in the curves...so the drivers that choose the safest way cannot compete with those that don't and they lose their rides. With the cars this rigid there is nothing to absorb the energy generated by the crash...except the human body.
Anatomically the human neck is rather fragile with the nerves that control all functions running through...and it supports the relatively heavy head. In a sudden stop the head whips forward...then back. There is great danger when this area of the body is injured.
Theresa Earnhardt is grieving...but not because of the Sentinel. She mourns Dale's death...her husband, the father of her child, her friend, her business partner, her mate.
The Sentinel is not responsible for his death. I wonder...are we, the fans so innocent. Did we in some way communicate to NASCAR that the driver's lives are expendable in the name of a "good" race? This would be a great misunderstanding for me....the safety of these men is paramount for me. I love racing, the sounds, the smells, the adrenaline, the feel of the rumble...but at the end of the race, I want all of the drivers to walk away from their car. I want them to go home with their wives and their families.
I do think that publishing the photos should be a crime. Viewing them to determine what was the cause of death and promoting tthings to avoid a similar death is IMO a responsible thing to do.
posted on March 14, 2001 07:50:29 AM newThere are also people that use accident results to figure out how to avoid future similar results.
Very true. And the people who need the photos for this purpose already have access to them I'm sure. To put them on the web is disgusting and serves no useful purpose, only more pain for a grieving family.
posted on March 14, 2001 08:39:41 AM new
dubyaetc.,
That is concern, a valid one, of the Earnhardt family, but no one has requested a copy of the photos yet. The Sentinel has petitioned the court to have access of the photos for their chosen head injury expert to view, not for copies to put on the internet.
The Sentinel and the Earnhardt's have been ordered to mediation for the judge. Hopefully a beneficial agreement can be reached and this part will be done with.
While the Sentinel cannot develop safety devises it can go a long way in promoting their development and use.
I wish that those that had access to Adam Petty's, Kenny Irwin's and Tony Roper's autopsy pictures had taken it further...but it obviously has not happened. It is time for other involvement. It is time for safety to be an issue.
Naturally this is all my opinion, based upon the facts I have access to and my perceptions of racing, the value of life and that safety & injury prevention are important aspects of a society.
posted on March 14, 2001 09:04:14 AM new
Well, it's like this. "Ethically", the rich and famous should not have special rights over the rest of us but they do. Posting pictures for viewing for free or fee, whether it's Dale E's remains or those of a homeless bum it's disgusting and disrespectful. Yet, people do what they do because they can. Similar to the speed limit on the freeway here in CA. The posted limit may be 65mph, but the actual speed is 80mph, even higher! Folks drive that fast because they can, and can get away with it most of the time! The consideration of others and their welfare doesn't come naturally. If there's a buck to be made then do it, because you can. The social conscience of "Although I can do this thing, but shouldn't and will not" has rotted away. What's replaced that is "I'll do whatever works for me!" Anymore, it seems that a real tragedy has to occur before any of us will step outside ourselves for someonelse.
