After much speculation, the CBC has finally conceded using a mannequin in place of an actual patient to make the situation in Alberta’s hospitals seem more alarming than it is. And it turns out that the carefully crafted hospital scene intended to scare viewers wasn’t even in a hospital!
This concession, coupled with a reluctant apology, comes nearly a week after the CBC broadcasted this deceit and subsequently went viral on social media, with many pointing out the obvious plastic head hooked up to a ventilator.
What do you see here? Look closely. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/3XtzSCnBd5
— Mr. & Mrs. Fred Fredderson (@FredFredderson1) October 10, 2021
“Earlier in October, we aired two stories on what patients can expect in a hospital ICU during the COVID crisis and the strain on nursing staff. We shot footage for these stories at two Edmonton training facilities that showed mannequins in beds and a realistic-looking hospital setting due to restrictions,” admits CBC Edmonton.
“Unfortunately, some of that same footage was then used in a different story about COVID projections and modelling last week. Using those images outside the context of the training facilities was inappropriate and we apologize for the error in judgement. The story has been corrected.”
We know how important accuracy and transparency are to our viewers, so tonight our newscasts will address an editorial error in our programming this week. pic.twitter.com/RAK9x7tEJJ
— CBC Edmonton (@CBCEdmonton) October 12, 2021
Now that the CBC has admitted their intentional use of set pieces to craft a good narrative, it begs the question: ‘How many times has the CBC used a mannequin to fool viewers?’
Due to privacy laws, news stations have to blur patients’ faces unless they get consent. So, how can anyone be sure if some or most ICU patients recorded in hospitals by the CBC are actual patients and not mannequins?
After all, the CBC said the decision to air the fake ICU patient was an “error in judgement,” not a mistake — an error they only conceded after mass public pressure to admit their lie.
