New Delhi, August 27, 2015: Doctors without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has become aware that its name is being used in promotional interviews for the new film “Phantom”. Additionally, one of the film’s main characters is portrayed as working for MSF. We would like to clarify that MSF has never been consulted or even contacted over the content of this film and is not associated with it in any way.
MSF staff provide medical care in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. The only way we can safely work in places such as Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen, where there is active fighting, is by explaining to every group on the ground that we are independent, neutral and impartial and interested only in providing medical care to people who need it.
Any portrayal that suggests MSF does anything other than provide medical care could endanger our patients, staff, our ability to work in places where people might not otherwise have access to healthcare and undermine our reputation .
MSF is also very concerned that in the trailer for the film, a character portrayed as working for an organisation confusingly similar to MSF is seen holding a gun. MSF also has a strict no guns policy in all our clinics and we do not employ armed guards. None of our staff would ever carry a gun. Any portrayal that suggests otherwise is dangerous, misleading and wrong. We have contacted the film’s production team and are taking legal action in order to correct this dangerous misrepresentation of our organisation and its work.
You can read more about MSF’s charter, principles and the way we work, here: /msf-charter
