Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici: 'If only BBC Türkçe hadn't done this'

Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici shared his criticisms regarding BBC Türkçe's report titled "A new treatment method discovered for asthma attacks for the first time in 50 years." Bildirici stated that presenting the new treatment method in the report as "revolutionary" and "miraculous" is misleading, reacting by saying, "If only BBC Türkçe hadn't done this."

'TESTS ARE NOT COMPLETE, GIVING HOPE IS PROBLEMATIC'

Bildirici pointed out that the research in question was conducted with the monitoring of only 158 patients and that a more comprehensive testing process is set to begin in 2025 and will last for 2 years, noting that it is wrong to pin great hope on a treatment that has not yet been completed. "We cannot predict the outcome when comprehensive research is finished," he said.

Drawing attention to a significant shortcoming in the report, Bildirici said, "While it was clearly stated that the drug could only be applied to a specific patient group and that the treatment process was only valid for this group, it was misleading for BBC Türkçe to ignore this." He also criticized the fact that the research was funded by the drug manufacturer, AstraZeneca, but this information was not provided in the report.

Bildirici emphasized that a conflict of interest was hidden, stating, "The report should have included the fact that the company providing the funding for the research is the same company that produces the drug." Stating that BBC Türkçe's omission of this information casts a shadow over its journalism, Bildirici also noted that such misleading information was quoted unquestioningly by many media outlets.

Finally, Bildirici stated that it would not have been difficult to check the research text, adding, "Ignoring such important information and ensuring that readers remain unaware of a conflict of interest is a serious journalistic error."