UK - Nurse duped by prankster regarding royal, found dead.

[panthera]

Why do some people keep insisting this was a harmless prank? What if you were in the hospital, and somebody called pretending to be your relative? Would that be funny? I don't know about UK, but in US, because of HIPAA law, the nurses divulging information could have easily been fired. She was recorded without her knowledge and consent. Here in US, it's not legal at least in some states to record without knowledge of both parties.

Even before this nurse's death, I fail to see the humor in the "prank" either, irregardless of it being Princess Kate or not.

MOO

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Australian DJs in hiding after royal hoax call prepare for first public statement after the 'humiliated' nurse they tricked is found dead

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ng-emerges-close-breakdown.html#ixzz2EbSDDfwi

The two Australian DJs responsible for the hoax call to a hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge were today in hiding - but have told bosses they want to 'express their remorse publicly'.

Friends say ex-model Mel Greig is ‘close to a breakdown’ and undergoing 'intensive psychological counselling' along with colleague Michael Christian - and both are being 'wrapped in cotton wool'.

Does anyone know what "wrapped in cotton wool" means?

 

[jjenny]

Australian DJs in hiding after royal hoax call prepare for first public statement after the 'humiliated' nurse they tricked is found dead

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ng-emerges-close-breakdown.html#ixzz2EbSDDfwi

The two Australian DJs responsible for the hoax call to a hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge were today in hiding - but have told bosses they want to 'express their remorse publicly'.

Friends say ex-model Mel Greig is ‘close to a breakdown’ and undergoing 'intensive psychological counselling' along with colleague Michael Christian - and both are being 'wrapped in cotton wool'.

Does anyone know what "wrapped in cotton wool" means?

I think it means they are being sheltered, not literally wrapped in cotton wool.

 

[zippitydoda]

The Royal wedding was watched by over 2 billion people worldwide and crowds of at least 600,000 lined the streets to watch the wedding on Jumbotrons.

http://abcnews.go.com/International...ents-william-catherines-big/story?id=13489892

This "prank" call involved "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge", who's pregnacy was now known around the world, and produced massive media coverage once it was announced. She goes into the hospital due to complications - which I suggest even hightend the media coverage.

I've had bad days at work where I've messed up, and then drove all the way home balling my eyes out feeling like a fool. Luckly for me, only a small number of people knew about my mistake. I can not imagine the feeling of getting dragged into this mess, dealing with the hospital speaking to her about it, then the massive media coverage it received, the media seeking her out (who is she, where does she live, what does she look like, what's her entire life story), the shear number of people knowing about it, hearing the tape and talking about it, and her name appearing in print, on the web and on tv.

I'm not walking a mile in this poor woman's shoes, so I don't know exactly what she felt, but maybe this was just more than she could bear.

Her family has my sympathy.

ETA... I think these two DJ's are jerks.

 

[wfgodot]

Bel Mooney's "A victim of today's culture of casual cruelty," about halfway down the Sunday Mail page linked here, is quite good.

http://tinyurl.com/ay2vbdp

 

[jjenny]

Bel Mooney's "A victim of today's culture of casual cruelty," about halfway down the Sunday Mail page linked here, is quite good.

http://tinyurl.com/ay2vbdp

That's a good article. I've noticed quite a few people here thought it was no big deal. But I think it was a very big deal for this woman. She is described as shy and nervous. A person like that could be petrified that her name would be found out and reported to billions of people as the one contributing to privacy of a member of royal family being violated. How is that not a big deal?

 

[jandkmom]

That's a good article. I've noticed quite a few people here thought it was no big deal. But I think it was a very big deal for this woman. She is described as shy and nervous. A person like that could be petrified that her name would be found out and reported to billions of people as the one contributing to privacy of a member of royal family being violated. How is that not a big deal?

I do think it was a big deal to her. What I was trying to say was that it shouldn't have been. So she let a prank phone call through. No big deal. No one should have made her feel like it was a tragic mistake. She should have been told that it was an error, to learn from it and to move on. In my opinion people are too judgmental on everyone and there are more important things to worry about in life than transferring a phone call and someone closer to her made her upset about it. Her close friends, family and supervisors should have comforted her and told her everything would be okay. Making the DJ's feel the same feelings will not bring this woman back. Praying for all involved. Forgiveness, comfort and understanding should be extended to everyone.

 

[Elley Mae]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-10-05-23-15

Police have not yet determined the cause of death, but many immediately assumed it was related to the stress from the call.


I am thinking it may end up being natural causes for some reason. jmo

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I sure hope so Elley. Suicide makes me so sad.

May she rest in peace and her family find comfort.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

'Shattered, gutted and heartbroken': Tears of Australian DJ as hoaxers go public for the first time after 'suicide' of nurse at Kate hospital

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...uicide-nurse-Kate-hospital.html#ixzz2EePZZFbw
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[belimom]

The media's lack of boundaries did not start with Kate's pregnancy. This is an example of how out of bounds the media has become. Please don't blame the Princess for loving her husband and wanting to start a family.

Whoa... I am in no way blaming Kate. My post was in response to someone who said that it wasn't Kate's nurse (to someone else), and I was iterating the relationship again of the whole prank to Kate's situation. Her nurse or not, it must greatly affect her.

Please go back and re-read my post and the context.

(And I agree the media is out of hand - I remember exactly where I was when I heard about Diana: camping in the woods with my husband, picking up a radio channel in the middle of the remote mountains, trying to make out what they were saying over the scratchy reception. 'WHO did they say?!?' 'Will 'lie in state'?!? This is someone big.' 'Oh wait - Diana?!? NO - not Diana...' I'll never forget and am not casting blame here on her daughter-in-law, or son, or any royal.)

 

[keeponsearching]

I wonder why this called made it through. Maybe it was unorganized as to which nurses station was suppose to screen the calls.... And this nurse thought the other nurse station would do that job. I do hope its from natural causes. I don't think she should of been in trouble.

Anytime you call a hospital, all you have to do is say you are family and they don't ask any other questions. Maybe there is a list, but how do they know that you really are family.

 

[jjenny]

Call made it through because nurse who died connected it through. She was working the switchboard. Nurse who actually revealed information is alive.
And I don't think the death is from natural causes.

 

[wfgodot]

As badhorsie pointed out at #86 above, the hospital was evidently "too cheapskate to provide a receptionist on nights." The nurse was doing a job she was not hired to do, nor trained to do.

 

[belimom]

The whole issue about the nurse answering the phone to begin with...

I picture her going about her job duties, filling out paperwork in charts, checking on patients, etc. The phone rang, she answered it, and being an honest person, wasn't prepared to be 'on guard' for a prank -- unlike a receptionist who normally may field such calls.

As for the hospital, I've worked night shifts at hospitals (not as a nurse), and it is very slow and quiet. I don't necessarily believe that the hospital was being cheap as much as it was being efficient. Imagine how much it would cost to have receptionists at all nurses stations through the slow hours when there may be only 1 or 2 calls, if any.

I also know from experience that unless you've seen firsthand public backlash about something you innocently said or did, many people don't anticipate that what they say or do may be used publicly against them. My first year teaching (before becoming a psychologist), I was young and naive. The school I was working at was new and had a lot of kinks to work out. A parent asked me my true opinion of the school, and - I gave it, privately. She then stood up at a PTA meeting and told everyone what I said. I could have died on the spot. I nearly lost my job but learned my lesson... I am not saying this nurse was naive as she had been on the job a few years, but I don't believe she anticipated being duped or the negative publicity - or gave a second thought to putting through a so-called family member to another nurse.

Nor do I think the DJ's meant any harm. People with thicker skin that are shock-jocks and such just may not realize how deeply their actions can affect others. It should not have been aired, IMO, but I really don't think they thought it through, as they never expected to get through.

It's a tragedy all around.

 

[jjenny]

When queen calls (or somebody claiming to be a queen) people will try to be accommodating. I am sure the woman didn't expect it to be a hoax.

 

[dotr]

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/r...-game-rages-on-over-jacintha-saldanha-s-death
"A woman died ... guilt must be assigned to someone.

That is the sad reality of the bizarre and tragic turn of events that has enveloped a hospital, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a radio station, two DJs and Jacintha Saldanha's family (right: daughter Lisha, husband Ben Barboza and son Junal).

The cries for blood and blame have rung from Britain to Australia and all ports in between. The British press, no slouches at intrusive tactics to spark circulation, instinctively went on the attack. We survey the media opinion and ask your opinion"

 

[belimom]

When queen calls (or somebody claiming to be a queen) people will try to be accommodating. I am sure the woman didn't expect it to be a hoax.

Exactly. Can you imagine if it was indeed the Queen - and someone had said, "Oh really? YOU'RE the Queen. I don't believe you." Again, I am sure there is protocol or a private line or something, but I think this nurse was just trying to help when she grabbed a ringing phone.

 

[dotr]

Video of "tearful apology".
Some entertainers believe playing comedic roles are more difficult than dramatic ones, imo that depends...
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/a...l-tearfully-apologize-following-nurse-s-death

 

[HMSHood]

I wonder if the hospital had caller id system to tell where the phone number is coming from. Australian and British area codes are different. I would think there would be protocols the royal family or anyone would have in place to prevent any breach. Medical records are confidential and this increases the chance that medical records can be breached that easily. I would think it is unusual for a grandmother (Queen Elizabeth II) to call on the status of a grandchild. I can see that with minors if the legal guardian is the grandparent.