Three weeks ago I wrote about a friend's reaction to a death in her mother's retirement village that went unoticed for five days and some of the challenging questions that inevitably arise around privacy, surveillance, risk, responsibility and sacrifice.

A similar situation in New Zealand in 2010 and the ensuing coroner's inquiry highlights how much we all need to get better at having some of those thoughtful, honest and yes, ‘difficult’ conversations.

It is very easy to leap to a position of outrage when we are confronted with grief, guilt and unanswered questions, and we want to find people, processes or organisations to blame.  But we need to pause and think about these things rationally and ethically, putting ourselves in the situation.

What forms of 'monitoring' would I be willing to tolerate? How much freedom, independence and dignity would I be prepared to sacrifice to satisfy someone else’s idea of keeping me safe?

Read more here.