Having trouble with VBA macro that deletes autofiltered rows

The filter does seem be OK. I have another macro to show only discharged patients, and it works.

However, there are merged cells in the table which are affected by the autofilter (i.e. patient name is 5 merged cells, and there are others). Each of the lines related to the patient name turn to 0 once the patient has discharged.

Sub ShowDischarged()

ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="BEC"
    ActiveSheet.AutoFilterMode = False
    ActiveSheet.Range("$AJ$1:$AJ$1000000").Autofilter Field:=1, Criteria1:="0"
    Range("B4:B8").Select
    ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="BEC"
    
End Sub