But Earnhardt's widow, Teresa, knows that once access is given to one entity, it will be hard to prevent others from getting them. She knows eventually they would be posted on the Internet, a prospect that drove her to make a plea last weekend to Earnhardt fans to see that the pictures are never unsealed. Publishing the photos would certainly be painful for family members, and there is no telling what kinds of grotesque schemes will be devised to make a buck off of the tragedy. There are few things more emotional than watching the wife and son of your hero weeping for your help. There are few things more pure than the outpouring of anger by thousands of fans on behalf of the family in response.
Emotions sometimes blur rationality, though.
The Florida law is in place mainly to provide oversight of medical examiners who might feel pressured to render a certain cause of death. A judge will rule Thursday whether to lift a temporary injunction barring release of the photos to the Sentinel. It is not up to judges to determine newsworthiness. The autopsy report is either public record or it is not. That's what the Sentinel is arguing.