Bioethics in the Courtroom: Sketching Medicine with Integrity

Just as court reporters are the "ears" of the courtroom, court artists are the "eyes" of the courtroom. The adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" shows the importance of the integrity of that image. Because the artist's sketch can convey information pertaining to the health of a defendant/plaintiff/witness, misrepresentation by the artist must be avoided so as to foster honest journalism. From a bioethics perspective, courtroom art should align to the live, physical (visible) presentation, even if one or more elements of the physical presentation has been fabricated. Similarly, invisible illnesses and symptoms should not be added to courtroom sketches. The court artist has a duty of objectivity and clinical honesty in their artwork. This fosters justice and journalistic integrity.