French dailies Le Monde and Le Figaro have carried stories representing Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard's negative reaction to the British media's coverage of the partial facial transplant he performed on a French woman last week.

The issue at stake is the difference between rules concerning ethics and confidentiality in the press in the two countries.

Professor Dubernard characterised the British media's behaviour as "odious", and suggested that "British journalists have no sense of ethics." He referred to The Sunday Times of December 4th which he says published confidential information about both patient and donor, a practice which he asserts is "totally illegal" in France. He also cited The Daily Telegraph criticising the fact that the paper published a photo of his patient after her operation.

The Sunday Times and The Independent both revealed the name of the patient, the alleged circumstances that lead to her disfigurement, and the age and alleged circumstances of the death of the donor.

Professor Dubernard has alleged that British journalists have offered the patient's daughter up to 3000 euros for a photo of the patient before her disfigurement.

Professor Dubernard has insisted that his patient wished to remain anonymous and furthermore that anonymity plays a key role in a patient's psychological reaction to an operation such as a partial facial transplant. The fear is that too much exposure may cause the patient to reject the transplant.

Le Figaro comments as follows on the issue: "The details appear more sordid than dangerous, but they may complicate the life of the patient. As seen in the case of Professor Dubernard's first hand transplant performed in 1998 the psychological stability of the patient is paramount. Clint Hallam, recipient of the transplant, rejected his new hand, which eventually had to be amputated in 2001."

This case obviously brings up issues of ethics and confidentiality in the press. The role of the Editors Weblog is not to express an opinion on whether the French or the British model is better. Rather, our objective is to highlight the fact there are situations in which the two models clash and it is time for journalists worldwide to consult with each - other in order to establish non-conflictual ground rules for conduct in circumstances posing ethical consideration.

Sources: The Independent, The Sunday Times, Le Monde (in French), Le Figaro (in French)

P.S. Also important is the verification of the information reported. A number of British newspapers published stories claiming that the transplant patient received her facial injuries when she was attacked by her dog while unconscious following a suicide attempt aided by an overdose of sleeping pills. They also claimed the donor had in fact hung herself. Professor Dubernard has condemned the British press for releasing false information and has vehemently denied the transplant patient's alleged suicide attempt.