Schrodinger’s Natasha

Let me just preface this post by saying I have the utmost sympathy for what Natasha Richardson’s family must be going through and I mean no disrespect. That said…

Am I the only one that views the media coverage of Richardson’s ailment as a bit like Schrödinger’s cat? We never seem completely sure of whether the poor woman is dead or alive.

As I write this, there is continuing confusion over whether Richardson has, in fact, died. TMZ had reported, and it was widely distributed, that she had been pulled off life support, resulting in her death, but, so far, no other news outlets have confirmed this.

It all started on a ski slope. Richardson fell on a beginner’s hill while taking lessons from a ski instructor. Immediately after the incident, Richardson felt fine and was talking and joking with those around her. Things took a quick turn for the worse, however. After a short time, Richardson complained of head pain and ended up in a New York hospital for an apparent brain trauma.

While all of the above is going on, news outlets are reporting numerous statuses on her, alternating from her being fine, lucid, and under observation, to brain death, to alive but in grave condition, to dead again.

How did the media get this so wrong and only end up confusing us? Have Twitter, and other social media conduits, made it so easy to spread information that we, collectively, all jump to conclusions together?

Update: CNN has confirmed that Richardson has died.

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