German Celebrity Stunt Show Accident: Does reality TV go to far?

The TV show is called “Wetten Dass” meaning Bet it was in its 30th year of production when everything went horribly wrong. Just before the pop singer Justin Beiber was to perform, a stunt man named Samuel Koch was attempting to flip over a moving car driven by his dad, while using spring loaded shoes. Koch cleared the car but went face first into the ground. He had multiple broken bones and fractured vertebrae. Doctors did not give a projected recovery time as his injuries were so extensive that they were not even sure if he would make it out alive. They did say that he was exhibiting signs of paralysis.
This event has raised questions about the ethics of reality TV shows. Do they push people too far and lead them into destructive situations, or are they simply just televising what goes on anyways? The right versus right dilemma here is it is right to show people newsworthy events and it is also right to keep people safe and not encourage them to do things that could harm them.
While this was a potentially dangerous stunt from the start, Koch and his dad had previously performed the stunt successfully. In essence, the show was more of a showcase of their talents, not a dare or a challenge. It was unfortunate that the stunt ended this way. In addition, the show has been on air for 30 years. This is the first serious accident that they have had. While the stunt performed are dangerous, they have had an amazing rate of success and safety. They are obviously taking precautions to help the performers be successful and safe.