Duchess Of Cambridge Hoax Call Nurse Found Dead

[whybother]

If she hadn't killed herself, would it still be a bad prank? Would everyone be jumping up and down over it?

[submaniac]

I just don't get the obsession that people that are from countries which are "subjects" of the British Royal family have. I mean in the USA, people don't care that much about the British Royal family. The people of the USA like them. They are on magazines now and then. But Americans don't obsess over them . The British, Australians and whatever countries that are under the crown seem to have this thing by seeing how far they can go to humiliate their own Royal family. Hey let's call up the hospital. Hey let's wiretap a phone call. Hey let's get a zoom lens to take pictures of the Dutchess topless.

It's just weird to me how--as a Royal Family--the British monarch gets very little respect by its own subjects. I mean if anyone had pulled the same prank on any member of Thai Royal Family the prankster would have been hauled off to jail for a lengthy sentence on a lese majeste charge and the reaction of the Thai people would have been "good then".

[Credo]

It was never funny. You have a person who is sick enough to be hospitalized and you have a couple of DJ's who decide to play a prank on her.

Want to play a prank? The next time there's an execution and the guys strapped in, call the phone in the execution chamber and say your the governor. The family of the victims might not think it's so funny though.

[whybother]

It was never funny. You have a person who is sick enough to be hospitalized and you have a couple of DJ's who decide to play a prank on her.

On the Duchess? I thought the prank was on the nurses.

[pacovl46]

Deleted their twitter accounts. They can dish it out but not take it.

I was a prank call, supposed to be funny! The hate mail they got on twitter was neither meant as a prank nor supposed to be funny. Big difference! Also, who commits suicide over a prank call, especially when your work place backs you up? There's more to this than what the press wants to make you believe.

[Mosha]

It was never funny. You have a person who is sick enough to be hospitalized and you have a couple of DJ's who decide to play a prank on her.

On the Duchess? I thought the prank was on the nurses.

The "prankster" asked to speak to Kate, adding this is the Queen.

[pacovl46]

It's entertainment on the radio. Perhaps some countries don't have this form of fun. There is no court of law that would convict the radio station for the death of that woman and the public shouldn't either!

They call someone who they nothing about, who may or may not have been having problems. Drove her over the edge. I suppose it's just collateral damage then.

They called the hospital, which then put the call through. They had no idea who would answer it. And how exactly were they supposed to know that making a prank call will drive a woman to commit suicide???

[whybother]

It was never funny. You have a person who is sick enough to be hospitalized and you have a couple of DJ's who decide to play a prank on her.

On the Duchess? I thought the prank was on the nurses.

The "prankster" asked to speak to Kate, adding this is the Queen.

But they didn't talk to Kate. They talked to the nurses. These pranksters often ask to someone important, but the prank is on the people who answer the phone, as they never get put through to the important person.

[Mosha]

If she hadn't killed herself, would it still be a bad prank? Would everyone be jumping up and down over it?

Read post #3 particularly in regard to the Leveson inquiry. Some of us Brits feel elements of the media are out of control. If the media won't moderate themselves, then press freedoms may be lost.

[Mosha]

It was never funny. You have a person who is sick enough to be hospitalized and you have a couple of DJ's who decide to play a prank on her.

On the Duchess? I thought the prank was on the nurses.

The "prankster" asked to speak to Kate, adding this is the Queen.

But they didn't talk to Kate. They talked to the nurses. These pranksters often ask to someone important, but the prank is on the people who answer the phone, as they never get put through to the important person.

They got through to the ward, and were able to ask and got answers about the Duchess. That's an invasion of the Duchess's privacy.

[whybother]

They got through to the ward, and were able to ask and got answers about the Duchess. That's an invasion of the Duchess's privacy.

I don't think invasion of privacy is what we're talking about here.

It's whether the pranksters are responsible for the nurse's death. IMO, they're not.

[theblether]

We are very familiar with prank calls JT. I haven't heard one before where someone has set out to get medical information on a sick patient.

I've certainly not heard one where lawyers thought it was a good idea to broadcast that.

How delighted they must have been at being able to broadcast that patient had stopped retching.

The fact that lawyers and station management knew about this recording and approved it makes their moral judgement even worse.

We Brits are not precious about the Royals, they get plenty of stick from us, however we would never dream of reaching into their hospital beds. That's a step way too far.

My first reply covered the current situation in the UK, we've had enough of the media muck raking and damaging the innocents. Get after the criminal and corrupt and we will applaud and celebrate our media, destroy innocent lives and we will condemn.

Now we are reading thtoughout forums and social media that Jacintha was to obviously on the edge anyway, and this was just an excuse to pull the trigger, or that what was she bothered about, it was only a six second call.

Well to the first you must be blessed with genius insight, to the second, some people do care deeply about their jobs, their responsibilities, and in this case, their duty of care to their patients.

Celebrate these people, these are the people who work in hospitals throughout the world caring deeply about every single patient, the concept of some media monkey taking advantage of their trusting natures is alien to them.

This world needs more Jacintha's and less fame hungry clowns.

[Jingthing]

The information that was released was rather pedestrian. If there had been some really embarrassing medical information released, I doubt the station's lawyer would have approved. Bottom line the radio people never thought they would get that far, and if you listen to the call, you can understand why. Again, it really isn't conceivable that the radio station is responsible for the suicide of an adult person. Compared to American style prank style media people, these guys were rank amateurs. What happened is tragic of course but in the real world you can't always legitimately pin the blame for every tragedy on anyone. If the speech from the radio station was offensive, for people who defend free speech, they defend offensive free speech as well.

[Mosha]

Well I was thinking earlier, that in India, particularly the North, honour killings happen. However in the South where she is from practically unheard of. So I thought maybe she felt her honour had been so stained, she saw no other way out. I guess we will never know. RIP to the poor lass.

[kevvy]

aussies and their sick humor .

[Baerboxer]

The call was for fun. No harm done and there is nothing to be ashamed of except those bad accepts.

Sad about the suicide. The radio station has ZERO culpability. The lady was obviously on the edge anyway and nobody killed her, she killed HERSELF.

It was not "fun" to ask about a patients medical status & then broadcast without permission, it was a gross breach of patient rights to privacy.

Spot on!

[Baerboxer]

The call was for fun. No harm done and there is nothing to be ashamed of except those bad accepts.

Sad about the suicide. The radio station has ZERO culpability. The lady was obviously on the edge anyway and nobody killed her, she killed HERSELF.

Did you know this lady and are you qualified to make judgements and comments on her emotional and psychological well being?

You're quick to jump to what you consider an "obvious fact" flavoured with your "obviously" high levels of compassion.

People are different and react differently. Society has to try to protect everyone. What's funny to some is not to others.

It appears these 2 clown radio presenters kept gloating and the subject was being kept live.

It's tragic that a life has been lost and other lives dramatically affected. These 2 clowns and their employers need to take responsibility for their actions. They could not have forseen such tragic events but knew very well that they were in dangerous territory.

[chiang mai]

The information that was released was rather pedestrian. If there had been some really embarrassing medical information released, I doubt the station's lawyer would have approved. Bottom line the radio people never thought they would get that far, and if you listen to the call, you can understand why. Again, it really isn't conceivable that the radio station is responsible for the suicide of an adult person. Compared to American style prank style media people, these guys were rank amateurs. What happened is tragic of course but in the real world you can't always legitimately pin the blame for every tragedy on anyone. If the speech from the radio station was offensive, for people who defend free speech, they defend offensive free speech as well.

You gloss over it all too easily and make too many excuses - the information that was released was rather pedestrian you say, it was privilleged private information JT, regardless of how you try to reclassify it. The radio station never thought they would get through you say - they did and now somebody is dead as a result. It isn't really concevable that the station is responsible for the death - well, if they hadn't made the call she would still be alive and we wouldn't be having this discussion, would we!

[Baerboxer]

It's entertainment on the radio. Perhaps some countries don't have this form of fun. There is no court of law that would convict the radio station for the death of that woman and the public shouldn't either!

Entertainment ? Ah, like the gladiators of Rome, dog fighting, bear baiting, - all considered entertainment by some.

[whybother]

The information that was released was rather pedestrian. If there had been some really embarrassing medical information released, I doubt the station's lawyer would have approved. Bottom line the radio people never thought they would get that far, and if you listen to the call, you can understand why. Again, it really isn't conceivable that the radio station is responsible for the suicide of an adult person. Compared to American style prank style media people, these guys were rank amateurs. What happened is tragic of course but in the real world you can't always legitimately pin the blame for every tragedy on anyone. If the speech from the radio station was offensive, for people who defend free speech, they defend offensive free speech as well.

You gloss over it all too easily and make too many excuses - the information that was released was rather pedestrian you say, it was privilleged private information JT, regardless of how you try to reclassify it. The radio station never thought they would get through you say - they did and now somebody is dead as a result. It isn't really concevable that the station is responsible for the death - well, if they hadn't made the call she would still be alive and we wouldn't be having this discussion, would we!

Ahhh ... the old "If you weren't here, it wouldn't have happened" defence,

[7by7]

The cause and reasons for her death are matters for the inquest to decide.

However, as The Samaritans have said, there is very rarely just one reason for someone to commit suicide and so it is probable that this poor woman had other issues and this pushed her over the edge.

Even so, this does not excuse the two prank callers as had they not made the call she would almost certainly still be alive and in a position to resolve her other issues.

Myself and everyone I know were angered and disgusted by his call before events took this sad and tragic turn.

Not because of the identity of the victim, but because of the gross invasion of privacy.

Phoning a hospital and pretending to be relatives of a patient in order to obtain private medical information and then make that information public is morally and ethically wrong; no matter who the patient is.

That the patient concerned is a member of the British Royal Family, or any famous person, does not excuse this deplorable action.

To those who say "It was only a joke. only a prank" I ask: how would you feel if a member of your family was subjected to such an invasion of their privacy?

Two major advertisers have pulled their accounts from the radio station. The station has now stopped all advertising; they say as a mark of respect, but more likely to stop the embarrassment of other advertisers following suit.

The two presenters have been indefinitely suspended; I hope without pay, but doubt it. If the station, and all Australian media, have any conscience then they will never work in the media again.

Whatever other issues this poor nurse had; if they had not made the call she would not be dead. Her blood is on their hands.

[whybother]

There are two different issues here:

1) Invasion of privacy. Clearly it was.

2) The nurse's suicide. Not their fault.

Don't cloud the argument by combining the two issues.

[chiang mai]

There are two different issues here:

1) Invasion of privacy. Clearly it was.

2) The nurse's suicide. Not their fault.

Don't cloud the argument by combining the two issues.

1) Agreed

2) Disagreed

[7by7]

The two issues are combined; if they had not made the call the nurse would still be alive.

[whybother]

The two issues are combined; if they had not made the call the nurse would still be alive.

Are you sure?

[Baerboxer]

The call was for fun. No harm done and there is nothing to be ashamed of except those bad accepts.

Sad about the suicide. The radio station has ZERO culpability. The lady was obviously on the edge anyway and nobody killed her, she killed HERSELF.

It was not "fun" to ask about a patients medical status & then broadcast without permission, it was a gross breach of patient rights to privacy.

It was a prank call. Did you listen the the call? I did. It was ridiculous! For people who don't understand how hilarious prank calls can be I suggest getting a hold of some Crank Yankers t.v. shows.

The majority of the Australian public do not agree with you, nor does one of the stations major commercial advertising clients who have now cancelled their contract with the station. No matter how ridiculous the call was, the DJ's did ask about the medical status of the patient and to me that is unacceptable. One of the DJ's involved has a record of lack of ethics with on air interviews and has previously been disciplined. She obviously hasn't learned from her previous errors of judgement, nor have the stations lawyers & management when undertaking risk analysis prior to authorising the broadcast. So we have to agree to disagree.

Thankfully most Australians are quiet capable of making their own sound judgements - and expressing them accordingly. Good on em!

It's sad when people resort to rude shocking or inapproriate behaviour on media to make up for a lack of talent.

[Humbugged]

If she hadn't killed herself, would it still be a bad prank? Would everyone be jumping up and down over it?

Bandwagon as usual.

I just don't get the obsession that people that are from countries which are "subjects" of the British Royal family have. I mean in the USA, people don't care that much about the British Royal family. The people of the USA like them. They are on magazines now and then. But Americans don't obsess over them . The British, Australians and whatever countries that are under the crown seem to have this thing by seeing how far they can go to humiliate their own Royal family. Hey let's call up the hospital. Hey let's wiretap a phone call. Hey let's get a zoom lens to take pictures of the Dutchess topless.

It's just weird to me how--as a Royal Family--the British monarch gets very little respect by its own subjects. I mean if anyone had pulled the same prank on any member of Thai Royal Family the prankster would have been hauled off to jail for a lengthy sentence on a lese majeste charge and the reaction of the Thai people would have been "good then".

Thats the difference between people that are not up themselves.

It was never funny. You have a person who is sick enough to be hospitalized and you have a couple of DJ's who decide to play a prank on her.

Want to play a prank? The next time there's an execution and the guys strapped in, call the phone in the execution chamber and say your the governor. The family of the victims might not think it's so funny though.

Thats actually not a bad idea.

aussies and their sick humor .

One mans junk is another mans treasure.

[Baerboxer]

The two issues are combined; if they had not made the call the nurse would still be alive.

Are you sure?

There is nothing to suggest otherwise

[7by7]

The two issues are combined; if they had not made the call the nurse would still be alive.

Are you sure?

I am sure that she would still be alive today.

Whether she would have been able to resolve whatever other issues she had, we will never know.

[whybother]

The two issues are combined; if they had not made the call the nurse would still be alive.

Are you sure?

There is nothing to suggest otherwise

So this is the only thing that she had problems with? She was all happy and then she gets a prank call and kills herself?