The media depiction of images of doctors and patients - An analysis of news coverage of coffin-lifting resulting from medical dispute

This study aims to explore how news coverage of coffin-lifting resulting from medical disputes depicts the image of doctors and patients. Using the critical discourse analysis, this study analyzed headlines, contents, the news sources, quotes, actor reenactments and various media content. 102 news articles published in five major newspapers in Taiwan were included in the analyzed sample. The results showed that the news coverage highlighted conflicts and emphasized tragic events which blurred the focus of medical disputes. Additionally, the news coverage highlighted images of powerless patients confronting large medical institutions, and allowed doctors to respond to patients' accusations using medical jargon. The media has the potential to be a channel in which patients can use to search for justice. Instead, they reproduced the unbalanced power relationships between doctors and patients.