The Associated Press' decision to publish a photograph of a dying Marine is drawing harsh criticism from the victims family and many Americans alike.

The photo, taken by embedded AP photographer Julie Jacobsen , shows Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard being helped by fellow Marines after he sustained leg injuries from an RPG attack. Bernard died on the operating table later that day.

The Marine's father, John, asked that the photo not be published out of respect for the memory of his son. The AP took John's request into consideration, but chose to print the photo anyway.

The AP's director of photography, Santiago Lyon said, "AP journalists document world events every day, Afghanistan is no exception. We feel it is our journalistic duty to show the reality of the world there, however unpleasant and brutal that sometimes is."

While I agree wholeheartedly with Lyon that the brutality of war needs to be shown, boldly denying the request of a mourning parent may be more than I am willing to do.