Those of us that hunt DG choose to hunt DG and DANGER is written all over it. So I don't think that there is any onus upon an operator to restate that. Nobody wants to get hurt though, and the operator in particular doesn't need a bad incident and all the resulting fallout, as is happening here.
What is therefore useful is to mitigate the risks through good practice all round. I would thoroughly hope that any lessons comming out of a tragedy are learnt and incorporated in the operation of subsequent hunts, and if that involved some disclosure of what went wrong why on earth not?
We endlessly debate here on AH what is the minimum adequate calibre, or what is the best bullet type for say buffalo? We also know that some types of rifles are prone to reliability issues. Nevertheless the hunter will make his choices regardless and pitch up. The first safety gate comes when the PH assesses the fellow's capability and the suitability of his kit at the customary firing on the bush range. If an inadequacy is observed it is the responsibility, nay duty of the PH to cater for it in the trip MO. The controversial question of backup arises and if the client can't shoot well, is a nervous type or his rifle is barely adequate then the PH should make it known, as diplomatically as possible, that he will back up, and do so.
The next thing is whether the PH requires the client to walk with a loaded weapon. Some insist they do so. Imagine if it transpires from a hypothetical tragedy analysis that the client was carrying empty and the reason that he was over run was that he couldn't load in time? That is the kind of information disclosure that is useful, and the cure is easy to adopt, go loaded. Then the PH must ask, often if necessary, "are you on safe?" I once found that despite knowingly putting my rifle on safe that I found it off safe on the walk. I went cold. It happens, human error, a branch, whatever. So you check, and re-check, often.
Imagine now also that the crisis arose because the PH's rifle wasn't a stopper? He fired, no effect, and the buff was on top of them. Which leads to the discussion of what type of rifle and of what minimum calibre PH's should carry? My personal opinion is that the rifle should be a double of a minimum of 470 calibre and that the PH should practice on charging targets to become very good at crisis shooting. At our DG practice sessions I see some PH's there and some are often not that good at all, but they are there and practicing, so good on them.
In summary, imo it is only a fool who hides knowledge that can prevent a tragedy. Be sensitive, be diplomatic, but be boldly transparent about what can and has gone wrong. And try to do it better.
