Michael Schumacher’s lawyer has explained why there was no report given into the Formula One star’s condition following his accident a decade ago.
The racing champ, now 54, sustained life-threatening injuries in the skiing accident back in December 2013, which saw him placed into a medically induced coma.
He came around from the coma in 2014 - but details on his condition since have been kept out of the public domain.
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Corinna, his wife, has worked hard to protect the privacy of her family following the accident - so much so that only those closest to Schumacher have been kept informed of his condition.
The Schumachers' family lawyer Felix Damm has helped Corinna in keeping these details under wraps.
In an interview with German news outlet LTO, Damm said a report was never shared publicly to protect private matters.
He said: "It was always about protecting private things. We considered whether a final report about Michael's health could be the right way to do this.
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“But that wouldn't have been the end of it and there would have had to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’, and it would not have been up to the family when the media interest in the story stopped.
“They could pick up on such a report again and again and ask, ‘And what does it look like now’, one, two, three months or years after the message. If we then wanted to take action against this reporting, we would have to deal with the argument of voluntary self-disclosure.”
Voluntary self-disclosure is the precedent that someone can’t claim the right to privacy if the information being reported has been shared by themselves - or via a representative, such as their lawyer.
According to the Daily Mail, this is a matter the Schumachers have had to deal with in the past when close acquaintances have shared updates on Schumacher’s condition.
Damm went on to explain that such information can’t be shared with the public.
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“If it is not the person concerned himself but friends or acquaintances who disclose private information, it is not a case of ‘voluntary self-disclosure’ of privacy,' he said.
“Therefore, the data subject can defend himself against disclosure of private circumstances, even if the information comes from an acquaintance.”
In a rare insight into her family for the Netflix documentary Schumacher, Corinna said: "I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here.
"Different, but he's here and that gives us strength, I find.
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“We try to carry on a family as Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
"'Private is private', as he always said. It is very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible.”
Featured Image Credit: Pascal Rondeau/Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesTopics: Sport, World News