Sorry!

When we learn the actual cause of death then comments might be appropriate. Suppose the nurse had a stroke unrelated to anything? Strange how so many opinions, even judgments, are put forth without benefit of actual facts.

Ha ha ha! Listen to what we are about to do folks. We are going to call the hospital and pretend we are The Queen and Price Charles and get some poor schmuck to give this the information on Kate's condition. What a gas, huh? Ready? Okay, dialing.

First who would think such a thing. A 12 year old? A radio station that has nothing better to do? Two compassionless people with an IQ of a slug? How some that would think this is funny or get a rise from it is beyond me. When the ads stop coming in "That's All Folks". Back to the factory making toothpicks.

That station stated that as long as it was not illegal, they dont care about morales...they sleep well tonight and repeat in their bed story "as long as it was illegal, no harm no foul, the lady she was just the tool...we throw them away all the time. /sarc"

Alan..you are so right...thats the first thing I thought of; "12 Year old children". Personally I was never a fan of those T.V shows 'Candid Camera,Punk'd,What what you do? etc....' it seems SOME people get a kick 'according to the ratings' of this kind of 'so called' entertainment. On a legal 'loophole' maybe it is possible to prosecute those two idiots for impersonation of a public figure ? Highly doubtful BUT...maybe by exploring the legal ramification of this sort of 'entertainment' the networks might have second thoughts and ban all 'prank phone calls'

I am just appalled how many stupid royalists are here to explain the strange coincidence of a nurse's death immediately after the prank call. This death doesn't pass the smell test. It's that simple.

oh goodness we got one of the worst radio shows ever in phx, 98KUPD, talk about trashy filth that only the DJ's laugh too and maybe their lowly followers but they have done stuff like this and its just perfect in their lil minds. They demanded that cheerleader who fell on her face to be fired...while she was still in the hospital!!! She fell...and got really hurt and they rallied their listeners to get her fired....it is so putrid.

Steve-

Well at least prank calls to hospitals, police stations or places of emergencies. Your calling these places to get information with faked identifications. The only way they could have gotten through was to pretend they were somebody of importance, related to person. When you call someones home they have the option to hang up. The nurse couldn't very well or refuse who she thought was The Queen and Prince Charles. Then she became the butt of everyone's jokes afterward when in charge of the most important person she probably ever had. The nurse may have felt she failed not only hospital policy but the person she was in charge of. Don't know what caused her demise but these two jokers ought to have their heads examined.

Anurse commits suicide over being pranked? Seems to me she had other issues besides being snookered.

Oh, come on! The suicide is tragic, lamentable! But, it was a prank, by morning radio Djs! And, it concerns as self-important and pompous a group of buffoons ("The British Royal Family" [Is there any other royal family?) as exists anywhere! What does anyone expect? Brain surgery? I'm an NPR guy, but the world is full of people who listen to (and demand) this nonsense, every day!

Barring added pressure from the public, or the lady's employer, it required a very troubled mind to think that suicide was the answer here! Sighing, and slowly shaking your head is the proper response, on this. Making a big deal out of it indicates that some folks have way too much time on their hands!

QUOTE: "If the DJ's were "so sorry" for the prank, why did they continue to air the recording on the station? ...Not sorry for the prank, just sorry for the negative press which resulted."

I'm not sure you can force a person to have a conscience. The best you can do is give "negative reenforcement". Get them to realize that if they do this again they might destroy their professional lives again. A lot of young people have grown up believing that "callous" is the same thing as being a "regular guy". That's the fault of older generations (nonstop hate radio, etc.). I don't know if the young people can grow a conscience at this late date.

@the thinker,

I agree! Its tragic but if in fact she committed suicide, then theres other issues she had. People get pranked and embarrassed by pranks but suicide?

@Bigred- Do you think it was appropriate to keep airing the thing after they learned that it had led the nurse to suicide?

Siara,

No, I don't.

They probably thought it was cute and funny. Children grow up and act your age. You are not so cute and funny as you think. They potentially could now face the consequences for their conduct. They are obviously anti monarchy so it would serve them well to brought back to London in chains and end up in the tower.

Joe we forwarded your email to the Royal Protective Service (RPS) for their consideration. I am quite sure that they will be reaching out to you soon mate

"We're very confident that we haven't done anything illegal," CEO Rhys Halloran said Saturday. "What happened was incredibly tragic and we're deeply saddened and we're incredibly affected by that.'

If I believe that fake mea culpa while watching him stiff the journalists who are not on his payroll and after learning that the station played it more than once, I still believe in the tooth fairy.

Congratulations to a quick bit of fun at a pregnant woman's expense and a devoted nurse and single mother's reputation. Too bad public square stocks dont exist any more.

The only thing Halloran is affected by is their advertisers wisely pulling their dollars out of this irresponsible Murdoch like station. Wonder what would have happened to these two unprofessional slugs if their intrusion upon a sick pregnant woman's sick bed had affected her pregnancy? Oops, "noone could have predicted such a response", says Halloran now. Pretty weak excuse.

Congratulations to his more astute and more ethical advertisers.

Blaming a person's death on two DJ's? that's a pretty good stretch, why is this even news? Get a life!

@ LA BAMBA what a worthless garbage you are! like mitt, you are a loser!

So, we have a couple people making pranks on a person they DO NOT know. They didn't know her personally. They didn't know what her situation was.. they didn't know anything... By doing this, they brought all this to bare on this woman..who never asked for it.

the saying... is "its all fun and games till someone dies" well, someone died. there may have been underlying issues for this woman...these DJs antics were something she COULD NEVER EVER escape from. Their(DJs) actions were wreck-less, childish, and i a certain way I think a form of bullying.

I am all for pranks... but I believe you must know your target...family, friends, coworkers... you have a sense of these people. What a terrible decision on the DJs part, what a tragic situation for the woman and her family.

John Q, you are a statist moron! "... brought back to London in chains and end up in the tower." Not to mention your RPS threat. People like you are what's wrong with the world. Pranksters are annoying, but statists love to use governments to imprison, torture, and kill. So, like Joe said, f the queen and, for that matter, f all apologists for the brutish states of the world. This nurse is likely dead because of the royals, not the radio.

In agreement with John Q Public, it seems that anyone who would even think to negatively comment or impact the "Royals" over there end up dead (Diana, this nurse) - I wonder why it will be more than two - three weeks before any inquest will be launched including the autopsy. Does a nurse just suddenly drop dead outside in front of the public>? I doubt it. John, come get me and drag me over there too, if you can.

What a tragedy. However, I don't think the DJs should be so harshly criticized for their actions and blamed for Jacintha's death. While I'm sure it was completely humiliating to realize you fell for a silly prank and compromised the confidentiality of one of the most sought-after women in the world, to take your own life over it is very extreme. It sounds like the woman could have already had some emotional instability to find suicide a viable solution. Furthermore, she was not the one who actually gave out the information. The nurse could have absolutely verified the identity of the callers before offering information. Also, the DJs could have chosen to end the prank at any moment, respecting the privacy of Kate and William and their family. However, I still don't think they're to blame for Jacintha's death. That was Jacintha's choice to do that, and by no means was that the intention of the DJs. I feel sorry for everybody involved. I'm sure Kate and William are also very saddened by this tragedy.

What we don't know is what exactly happened to her after she released the update on Kate because of the prank.. My guess? The hospital reamed her a new a$$hole for 'falling' for the prank! Even though there was probably no way she could know those idiot radio hosts were NOT the 'real' Royals, the hospital probably has some strict policies in place about protecting 'celebrities' from the media.. Saldanha was undoubtedly called out on this and could even have had her job threatened by the hospital's administrators! That, on top of the humiliation she would have had to endure from her colleagues (who probably would have done the same exact thing) and the public was too much! I would give my eye teeth to know exactly what kind of reprimand she got from the hospital! I have no doubt it played a LARGE part in how she was feeling, which was obviously pretty damn low..

Some people are just very sensitive and compassionate.. These are usually good emotions to have, especially for those in the nursing profession.. I've had occasion to wish some of the nurses I've met had a bit more compassion and sensitivity.. But people that are naturally kind and sensitive also do not endure well the harsh critique of uncaring, callous people.. Sadly, it seems this lady was one of those gentle souls that find it difficult to handle the abuse of a rather cruel world..

first society has enabled these moron in the radio business to act this way.. the US is full of these mental midgets..and there making a ton of money because of us and the advertisers that support them.....evryone jumps off the band wagon when it gets really dirty like someone kills themselves or we offend the flovor of the month........Ok having said that ...i work in health care and you dont give out info on anybody unless papers are signed. and over the phone never ever or its your job,,,,and you loose it instantly.....and they dont care if your mother teresa.....your gone............and about the woman killing herselve that was selfish she had children....that was her descision.....a very bad one ....but with the media that started all this she would have been hounded for years and her family......the shame would have been crazy... like winning the lottery but in reverse..........and last the shock jocks. a couple of beautiful people that mite have ruined that radio station and there lives.....and the scars that they will carry for the rest of there lives.....they were just doing there jobs........a meaningless job but thats my opinion.....good luck to all and GOD bless there families............finally while i wish the best to william and kate and the health of there baby........i really dont give a crap........i just worry about my retirement and surviving the american govt and there poor management.......

someone clearly can not take a joke....damn brits

I know Candid Camera type shows have been fooling people for ever...no harm/ no foul/ funny....

BUT THEY TOOK IT TOO FAR:

I had a friend of mine pretended in his best (middle eastern) accent to be Tom Selleck's Doctor (this was in the early 90's). HE told the head of Security over the phone that we urgently needed to talk to Tom about a family matter (TOM was staying at a hotel in Baltimore...) We pretty much had him fooled, saying, "He hated to wake Mr. Selleck up at 1 AM..."

But we backed off and told the guy that we would call back in the morning... mainly because we didn't want to get somebody fired for us being jerkoffs.

They could have set her up...for laughs....sure...but before she disclosed any information they should have pulled the plug and told her who they really were.... jeopardizing somebody's career over something stupid, is not cool. Now she's dead......RIP

As noted, these DJs did not do anything more than any other DJ has. What the did was what the listening audience wanted: to see how far the prank could go before someone realized it was a prank. So , no, they did not do anything wrong.

Look at all the prank tv and radio. If we the listeners/viewers did not want this stuff it would not be aired. If this was the first time anything remotely like this was aired, maybe you could blame the show's producers, but it is not, so you can not blame them for a prank like this.

It was not done with any malicious intent. They did not seek to cause any real harm to anyone. They did not target this woman, or any other person, for the purpose of causing them ill will.

Let us be 100% honest here, if this woman had not died, or if no one had heard about her death, then the clip would still be airing and EVERYONE (including the people decrying what the DJs did) would still be laughing at it. The sole reason this prank is "bad" is because someone related to it died. Nobody complained about the prank itself before the news of her death.

We can feel bad for her family because of their loss, but to blame the DJs is wrong.

Malicious also means ..mischievous in motivation or purpose and that means ...Causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way That is exactly what it caused, trouble for the nurse who had a duty to perform. Using false identification so they could talk to kate in the hospital. Knowing full well that the hospital has rules in effect that forbids outside calls in this particular case from people who would hound their patient.. Plus the fact they do it for their radio station so some of their listeners can get a kick out of it. Not even thinking what kind of trouble this could cause to someones job or reputation. A prank without thought, period.

Obviously no one has taken into account the depth of personal responsibility many people in service occupations hold themselves accountable to. This woman was an integral member of a team responsible for the care of a significantly loved member of the British population. Yes her team was also aware that the child would be the next in line, behind his or her father, to ascend the throne. That is a significant amount of responsibility for a team to bear, and each member shares deeply in that resposibility.

The DJ's were not cognisent of the concept that there are people who are feel deeply responsible about their duties and as such accept total resposibility for their actions. The DJ's only focus was to pull off a "grand punk". They totally ignored the possibility that others would view their act as totally irresponsible and offensive. They also misjudged the depth of responsibility any member of such a team would feel and the impact that failing the "team" would have on such a dedicated person.

Should the "death inquiry" result in the determination that the nurse died at her own hand, not as the result of a medical condition, then the DJ's should be held responsible and prosecuted accordingly. They should be made to pay for the maintenance of the woman's children till they reach an age to be determined by the courts as satisfactory.

In other words...THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO ACCEPT RESPOSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

You generalize a lot here. I don't want these types of DJs on the radio and think they are childish and beligerent to most guests and callers. Just because the lowest common denominator want this type of base comedy, don't make the claim we all want it. I often wish fewer people listened to this trash, so that the market would deem them worthless. It seems low brow beats high brow everytime. As for "Everyone" laughing at this prank. Hardly. Unless I no longer count as part of everyone.

I think excusing it away as not meant to be "malicious" is apologistic. Who knows what they meant it to be? All we do know is they lost sponsers and are on paid suspension and the world has turned on them for contributing to, if not causing, a woman's death. I'd say they understand the consequesnces now. The general public are not the radio hosts playthings. I would hope this would shine a light on the fact that these actions by the DJs and others like them are not in fact "victimless" jokes. Even if this woman did not kill herself, her career would most likely be ruined. Is it morally just to potentially ruin another person's career for the betterment of your own? It is this attitude that has put us in the moral situation we are in now in the world. Me, Me, Me. Who cares about you?

Thank God, it was first reported that the female DJ from Oz took her life. Luckily, the report was wrong and it turned out to be somebody else. RIP.... Kate's nurse.

They have already accepted responsibility for what they did: their show is off the air. And that is a lot because they only did what their listeners wanted: have a big laugh.

They cannot be held responsible for the woman's death, should it prove to be a suicide. The only person you can hold responsible if she committed suicide is her.

The DJs did not bully her, or threaten her, or do anything to force her to give them information. Her only fault was not realizing it really was not the Royal Family calling in. And she was not the only person at the hospital to make that mistake. Not everyone at the hospital who fell for the prank has turned up dead, yet.

We the public have loved these pranks for decades. Candid Camera, Punk'd, America's Funniest Home Videos, Jackass: just to name some long lived and/or extremely popular ones.

Just look at Youtube. Their are millions of videos.

Everyone can climbed back down from their Ivory Towers and exit their Glass Houses now.

It was a bad idea, but what prank is not a bad idea? Everyone laughed at the guy who woke his wife while driving when he behind a truck being towed from the rear, making her think the truck was coming at them. What IF she had had a heart attack? Not so funny now is it? Everyone needs to get off their Soap Box and remember a prank is not always funny to the person on the receiving end, and they can end very badly. The ones that don't end badly, we laugh our arses off at them.

Oldotto2 - Well said! I'm not sure how things work in England or Australia, but in the US we have HIPAA laws to protect someone's privacy. It is no joke! The nurse did not violate the law, she was tricked into it. Those who tricked her ought to be held accountable as you said. THEY violated the law, and any fallout from that - the nurse's death - should be included in an indictment against them. And ESPECIALLY when it involves a Royal who is beloved around the world. How would we feel if it had been Michelle Obama or something? The smallest breach of confidentiality has to be reported to a number of authorities related to the hospital - insurance companies, federal agencies, hospital regulators, etc.

An explanation, in part: "Employees will strictly protect the confidentiality and right to privacy of all clients and shall not disclose any client information whatsoever unless expressly authorized by law. This includes full compliance with all conditions under the Privacy Standard of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as these pertain to the provider's work. Violation of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment."

Prank calls are done here in the US. I travel alot and ive heard prank calls alot and I thought they were funny. Sorry this death happened but it is at no fault of the DJ's, if any fault is to be put on something or someone, it is how or media has evolved or Hospital treating these celebs need to be trained in this in order to prevent future pranks. I myself feel that the DJ's did nothing wrong. Disagree with me if you'd like but I believe with proper training from hospital this poor impressions would have been caught shortly after they answered the phone

No, they had a choice how to make an audience laugh, and they chose to make a worldwide laughingstock of this woman. They (and some here) cannot understand the idea of being dedicated to a level of care in one's life that exceeds all expectation, the idea of excellence in service. This woman may also have had a sense of honor, and felt that she had betrayed those in her care to the rude and voracious press. Remember, the princes (and others) blame the invasive and aggressive tactics of the press for their mother Diana's death. To be the woman who opens the door to the world on something so private as the medical treatment of the prince's new bride was probably too much for her. Pranks are too expensive, as they begin with not caring about someone else, in disregarding their feelings, one way or another. Almost all of them are bad ideas, and some are deadly.

@madking. Its nice when you can twist this law into whatever you like it to say. The DJs didnt break the law here in the US either

OMG. Mom theyre teasing me..... Grow up people. If she took her own life over this then it was a matter of time before something else would of pushed her over the edge. She needed help and shes employed by a hospital, They should have seen the signs more then anyone of us could. Pranks are the way of life, either learn to deal with it or dont answer your phone. Alot of you posters are mean and vicious and I havent heard anyone saying "dont you might cause a suicide". quit with the blaming and look for the solutions. The DJs did nothing wrong

This is the result of "Weenie and the Butt" style radio shows.

S. Williams-430936:

They did not choose to make a laughing stock of this woman. Nobody knew who she was until she died.

As another poster said, she mistakenly thought the DJs were actually the Queen and Prince. We can surmise that she felt bad about her mistake. We can surmise she felt bad because information was released about a patient.

But, she was not the only person at the hospital responsible for that. There was other staff including, from what is being said, the actual person who told the DJs Kate was doing fine. We don't know if this nurse was the first person to answer the call, or the last person before the one who actually told the DJs what was going on with Kate. We don't even know how many people at the hospital were involved with the call.

According to the news release from the Hospital, it was helping the staff with dealing with the prank, so it would appear that as far as the Hospital is concerned, the staff though may have done wrong, they were not being fired for it.

There is a lot of facts we don't know. We don't even know how she died yet. Her death may still be a coincidence: nothing to do with the prank. All we know is she was found unconscious and the paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

Again, but for the death of the Nurse, clips of this prank would still be airing. The public would not be having a problem with it.

And to answer Bobbbie:

I generally don't listen to radio prank calls. It is not my "thing". But I do watch and laugh at prank videos. I have even thought of making prank videos. There is even one show that uses puppets to "reenact" prank phone calls. As a teen, I did make prank phone calls (of course it was before Caller ID).

And recently I was the "victim" of a prank phone call during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The call was stating that the electric at my mother's apartment was going to go back off. I was driving, and before the call was over and had announced it was a prank, I had started to go get my generator because my mother is on an oxygen machine. I don't know who arranged the prank call, or if it was random. It was not real funny to me because of the circumstances. But I wasn't pissed off about it. Yes it could have been really bad. I could have been headed in the opposite direction and been forced to make a "u-turn". I also could have been racing to get the generator before the power went off. But none of the "coulds" or "ifs" happened. As with any prank, it was a bad idea, but like most, nothing bad happened because of it.

This is tragic to be sure. However, suicide is not the logical response to a prank.

Wipe the smile off your faces! It's all fun and games until someone gets a eye pokked out. Go to jail you killers. Live with this for life. Both of you are sick. You will never forget what you did! WAS IT FUN ARE YOU LAUGHING NOW????? Have a bad life of remembering the life you took. Tell your children what you did that's my Mom and Dad. Sad so very sad!

the US is full of these mental midgets..and there making a ton of money.

THERE? Ahh, I love irony.

The results of this prank should never happen again.

People who don't think before they actually commit the "act" to another innocent person---humiliation from the Royal Family towards this nurse is bad enough---

This woman was a conscientious nurse, only doing her job--there must be no laws like we have in the US requiring not giving information about a patient. This law could have saved a life--HPPA Law--

The immature DJ's are sick--is this a crime?--It should be-condolences to this caregiver's family, and sadness for this dedicated nurse. Lousy outcome just because it was the Royal Family, who verbally punish those who make mistakes (and the British Tabloids who Blast minut information re: the Royal Family); excluding Prince William and the Duchess Kate.

This nurse did not give out any private or classified information. She merely transferred the call to the floor where Kate was. She did nothing that should have caused her to feel responsible for anything at all. I agree with some of the others, there must have been more stresses or issues going on with her for her to take such a drastic and tragic action over what would be normally be nothing more than a silly prank. IF, in fact, it was a suicide

In case some of you haven't yet figured it all out.....

Never, never, ever "eff" with Her Royal Majesty. Just saying.

Her Highness has my full honor and respect. Enough said.

Sorry ? .... yeah right !

Unfortunately this is the way the world's society has gone in recent years. Cyber bullying, celebrity phone taps, paparazzi out of control, now radio bullying, and this suicide, just one of many.

This poor nurse was a human being, who was so humiliated she could not bear to live any longer. The cruelty of this world never ceases to amaze me. ..... Shame, shame, shame !

When I first read of this prank, I was angry that there are people who would do something such as this and then I read of Ms. Saldanha's death and felt sadness for her family.

This so called prank wasn't just childish, it was cruel and mean spirited. Maybe that wasn't their intent but even if it wasn't these two should never be allowed to ever work in any capacity in journalism.

They have shown that they are incapable of sensible thinking. They should have realized that playing such a trick on an innocent person would have a serious backlash in that the person could potentially lose their job not to mention the humiliation from this going viral.

Unfortunately we live in a world where too often this happens and will continue to happen because there are too many who are not capable of thinking beyond their own personal need for fame and fortune and who are often too willing to use others to further their own agenda.

If people can't have a bit of fun we might as well all give up the ghost. It was a damn good prank, taking the mickey of the royal couple. And she had to go and spoil everything. Don't expect Americans to have any sense of humour being a bunch of pseudo moral self indulging politically correct religious perverts who are even more bigoted than the horde of imbecilic true believers.

@bioparahti, and just how might you know it was suicide? What exactly caused the death?

What can you possibly know about "correct response"? Let's wait until you're on the receiving end before judging.

Why does everyone presume suicide?!? As I read the article, all I thought to myself was..who in the hell killed this poor woman? and, they better not get away with it! Somebody's got some serious 'splaining to do, and it's not the nurse!

Unfortunately I can understand the situation that "bioparahti" cannot. The issue is that a violation of the privacy of a patient is grounds for termination. After working several years to get through nursing school she would have been heart-broken to make such a grievous error. Secondly she would be facing termination from her job and embarrassing ridicule from her co-workers, friends, and family. Thirdly, she rightfully questioned "Who is going to hire the notorious nurse who did such a thing?" She would have been forced to move or deal with a good year of unemployment and then having to explain to each potential employer what had happened?!!

With this going viral; with the list of viewers / listeners growing at an exponential rate I'm sure (though not positive) that this, THIS was too much for her to deal with emotionally. Suicide is the choice for people that feel they have no other option, that going on along the life path they are facing is an insurmountable climb, and to end it all is their last desire and hope.

Yes, perhaps this was compounded by a sense of loneliness, or financial troubles, or maybe her dog just died last Tuesday and this just made her life seem like an endless pile of crap... but maybe, just maybe it was the prank and her broken heart that resulted from it.

1- she almost certainly committed suicide FamousAmos-3755959... you think she just coincidentally had a natural death right after this event? its lotto odds

2- shes a medical professional at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world and she got fooled and had her capability, discretion, and judgement called into question for LIFE... no way to ever get past this for somebody who is serious about their integrity which I'm sure she had to be to even get that job.... for some people it might be the straw in combination with other stuff in her life

3- I hear dumb azz DJs pull this prank stuff all the time... calling spouses to joke about their wife or husband having an affair... making fools of people... all kinds of stuff.... I guess it's funny if you are a sociopath and don't care what damage is caused

those two DJs are definitely responsible... they took advantage of someone and the person died.... if you do something in the world and someone is harmed, you don't get to just say "well, they shouldn't have been hurt"

fire them

old...,

1. The story is that she transfered a call, nothing more.

2. That anybody (including her) thought, or thinks that anybody knew, or cared about who transfered some prank call, is part of the general hysteria here. The only reason any thinking person is even still talking about this is the lady's suicide. The suidide turned a barely noticed prank (played on a group of self-important circus-clownish royals, [by morning radio Djs!!]), into an event that will now live in people's memories, and on the internet!

3. Yeah, the prank was childish, but so is the concept of "morning radio", and a "Royal Family", too!

4. Barring pressure from her employers, the nurse had to have had a very troubled mind to even contemplate suicide as an answer here!

Its all very tragic, but the internet hysteria is nonsensical, it seems to me!

Ed...

her name, the recording of the call and its many postings on the internet and youtube, tweets from the DJ taunting her for being so gullible, and a million other things were widely reported news in the UK and throughout the world on the first day.... well before her apparent suicide

all of these events result in real world pressures.... she was publicly humiliated and had her judgement, while in a trusted career, called into question on a world wide scale... social media has a real world impact on people and their reputations as we are reminded of frequently by celebrities, athletes and politicians, and everyday people

the reasons thinking people are talking about this include

-the irresponsibility of the DJs and media pranks in general,

-whether or not they should have a culpable negligence which should result in their firing,

-the internet backlash, its effect on psychology and it's role in her decision making,

- the role of social media and it's exaggerated impact on peoples lives

the media, whether it be mainstream or social, has incredible power to ruin peoples lives very quickly these days.... an event like this is recorded for all time and for people who rely on their reputations for career or personal worth, it is a very serious issue.

irregardless if we believe that she was imbalanced to have taken such rash reaction (and thats a matter of perspective or opinion).... this abusive prank by the media and the social media storm that followed are real things with real consequence.... and now, imbalanced or not, she is dead because of those two DJs actions....

could they reasonably expect it to happen? probably not... but in the abstract, in a lot of countries if you take an action, regardless of intent or expectation, and it results in someones death, that's manslaughter...

Yeah, why do we think it is suicide. She was maybe killed off by terrorists. Prince Williams was not happy with the Nurse for not protecting the Duchess so the Kingdom asked people from Al'Qaida to send over a secret task force and eliminate her. She did not commit suicide. Maybe she died from laughing so much after she thought about the whole prank. Just kept laughing and laughing and could not breathe and died. Or maybe................. But suicide, no, not suicide. Murder. You guys think Obama maybe?

I agree with bioparathi and thethinker: For one to commit suicide, there are obviously serious emotional issues occuring (depression, anxiety), and the DJs are not responsible! That being said, this is extremely sad and tragic for the woman's family. My condolences.

Too bad these butt holes aren't in the U.S. then the nurses family could drop a civil suit on there arses and the station.

I was a radio DJ once upon a time. We played music and commented on events and stuff. We considered ourselves entertainers. It seems that "entertainment" nowadays consists on things like practical jokes, rudeness and humiliation. Thanks, but I'll take Carol Burnett and Jack Benny (remember him?) anytime.

I think these two DJs should be fired, or at the very least fined a substantial amount of money. That might send a needed signal to other "creative" people in the broadcast business.

It was a prank that was not meant to hurt anyone. Having said that, I cant think of a time when I've felt more sorrow for someone I've never met. If she did commit suicide over this she must have been in a very fragile state. Maybe a series of personal events or at work by her superiors. We've all have been put into emotionally painful situations and we react differently. We don't know the specifics yet. I pray that this is the last suicide connected to this that we have to talk about. God forbid one of these Djs takes his own life because of the way he being hounded by the press. We need to calm down and give it some time. We need to find out the truth about what actually happened. May Almighty God have mercy on her soul and strengthen her family, friends and the ones involved in this.

First of all, my sympathies to the family of the nurse. However i must ask the question: What is hospital protocol dealing with phone enquiries about a patient? Are you allowed to discuss/disclose patient condition/infprmation on the phone, voice recognition notwithstandin(sic)? How does the hospital instruct its nurses to handle such matters. I wouldn't blame the djs entirely....anyone could have done this prank. I believe the nurse must have been exceedingly fragile or had other stressful matters contending with; but lets hear the real cause of death please. Again my sympathies to her family.

@oldhamletman

her name, the recording of the call and its many postings on the internet and youtube, tweets from the DJ taunting her for being so gullible,

I don't recall seeing her name anywhere and there was no recording of her. All she did was transfer the call, the recording everyone has heard was a different woman.

The DJ's were the only ones committing the ruse. They lied about their identities (performed even) so they could get through to Kate. That means by anyway possible by false pretenses. This is not a prank vs your buddy or boss it's one against a Organization which has a set of rules and regulations such as hospitals, Police Departments etc. If the rules state family members, doctors calls only go through then maybe the nurse got a tongue lashing with possible dismissal and she had worked there for years without the slightest problems. You could see the damage that might have been done. Now these two jokers come along with complete disregard for rules and someone's life. Yeah I know what's all the fuss over, can't folks take a joke. Excuses for everything and everyone.

@FamousAmos:

And how timely Kate's recovery and discharge a day before all this happened!

oldhamletman--your posts are extremely articulate and insightful. When I try to put myself in her shoes after she found out that she had been duped into such a breach, I can easily imagine the pain, humiliation and despair that she could have been suffering. I am a conscientious, sometimes oversensitive-natured person that has lost many nights of sleep over even the most ordinary error at work--it bothers me that much. Not only the feeling of having fallen short, but the concern about my reputation and what my colleagues will think and say (colleagues are often ruthless with co-workers who err on the job).

I know I am not the only person that goes through that, by the way. Now, imagine that I not only have to worry about the fallout of my failure in my intimate circle, but now the entire world knows my failure? My job is in jeopardy (I fear), and I'm a laughingstock for the whole world to see? Even if they don't know my name, I know who they're all talking about. Who among us could live with that and not be major-ly negatively impacted????

yes n dianna was pg when they blammed it on the pops never believe the media now this just like our elections lmaoo

Sorry, lynn-2640965, but we all don't speak "gibberish." Or "idiot" for that matter.

I think there's been more than enough evidence to place the blame for Diana's death directly at the feet of the conspirators.

Or by the driver going over 100mph might have been a very little part of it

What has the Diana's incident got to do with this? Anyhow, she asked for it hanging around with that natural born pimp for the Sultan of Brunei and son of the erstwhile owner of Harrods who kept the paparazzi informed of their whereabouts because he was so proud and wanted the world to see his son dating Diana before he passed her over to the Sultan, the person who after all made him the boss of the world famous department store. There you have it. Say no more!

Actually, once they decided to broadcast the recording, the possible consequences COULD be foreseen.

I'm sure nothing could have been fourseen.

It was not a harmless prank! It's not as though they can say, Oh, hey, where's your sense of humour? I agree with redmoth.

The humor here is how many ways can you spell FORESEEN?

There is no humor when you ruin someone's career whether intentionally or unintentionally. This nurse has to be one of the best in her profession to get picked to care for the royal family member. We Americans don't understand what is the big deal about the royal family but think about it this way: while serving in the military, I had opportunities to care for some of our countries top generals and politicians. My head will be rolling if I ever intentionally or unintentionally leaked their medical information. Invasion of privacy is offensive no matter what country you're from.

I'm sure they neither intended or foresaw that this would cause anything more than slight embarrassment. But not everyone is strong enough to make a mistake and have their shortcomings aired to the world. Being an Immigrant she may have felt that she shamed herself and her family. And despite what the hospital says about supporting her, she went from "Employee of the Month" to "Break room Laughingstock" in front of the whole world and it was more than she could bear. The prank didn't kill her, and her mistake didn't kill her, the Media killed her, It shamed her to death.

It's only a "harmless prank" if both sides think it's funny. Clearly, the poor nurse did not. I have no doubt that the hosts did not intend this level of harm, but I cannot have any sympathy for them.

Add to that the fact that those two hosts spent several days ridiculing her for letting their call through because of how terrible their accents are, and I'd say the hosts bear at least significant culpability in her death. Their original actions were juvenile, and because they were so pleased with the results, they kept hammering away about it. They can claim whatever they want, but the only people who are shattered are the nurse's family.

These people just didn't go out of their way intentionally or unintentionally to ruin someone's career. It's not every day that someone goes off and kill herself over something so ridiculously funny. What a heartless stupid girl, getting everybody into trouble. Perhaps her family is to blame. Shattered, my foot.

the radio station is saying it was vetted by their attorneys for review before it was aired....apparantly legal ok'd it first...

@Larry Hipes, how do you know she was unstable? She did what...?

So it's OK to play a mean prank on someone in public for all to see through broadcasting, and then if they don't get the joke it's their fault for being unstable. It's always easy to laugh at someone else, isn't it?

Hey larry, since you know so much could you shed more light on the situation? You know for a fact she killed herself? Cause I know the police over the pond there are pretty darn confused. Maybe you should go help them out, maybe offer your clairvoyant services.

Larry, I have known you since childhood and I am surprised at your lack of compassion, especially given your background. Your mother was a hooker who turned tricks behind our high school and your father is still serving time for what he did to those Girl Scouts.

Oh, I'm sorry; I don't really know you, I was just pulling a prank by saying that I did. I was pretending to be someone I wasn't. And if the readers got a kick out of my "unintentional" chuckle seeking at your expense, get over it. As you would say, "On, come on. It was just a joke."

It is always a joke to people until someone dies. this is what is wrong with society today. keep pulling pranks until someone dies or gets hurt, you know, because we have always done it. stupidity at its finest hour!

CareRaven, You tell them, so many people are fast to judge others, until it comes to be in their own back yard and families. At the moment no one knows the situation, nor why such thing happened, so step back and regroup, your lies and insults only ad to the ones involved. DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS AS YOU TOO WILL BE JUDGED.

As for the DJ's, I will say........ a prank is a prank, and such should not be pulled on anyone! Whether a friend, neighbor, and MOST ESPECIALLY, if one is dealing with the public. Stupidity, mindlessness, and thoughtlessness, is no EXCUSE...... for what these people did, and causing the outcome. If responsible... should suffer the consequences, and be dealt with.

And if the people in-charge of the station allowed it to be aired, they should be the one's held accountable, and be responsible for what has happened. And make amends to the family of the girl, as funerals are expensive, and for sure a hardship to the ones involved... SO JUDGE NOT, AS YOU ALL WILL ALSO BE JUDGED WITHIN YOUR LIFE TIME.

By the way... FWIW I meant "as the DJs did" in the last line, not "and the DJs did".

Mark-1925471:

Private detectives, and unscrupulous reporters use pre-texts all of the time to obtain otherwise private information. Jacintha Saldanha made a mistake and transfered a call and although she didn't give out the information, the fact that the call was put through made those in the ward believe it was ok to give out the information. I'm going to go with the hospital administator/s weren't to hard on her.

That Nurse wasn't scolded by anyone because she didn't do anything wrong. She isn't the one who gave out information on Kate. It was the 2nd nurse. This lady was teased and embarrassed by everyone because she was the voice that took the initial call before she transferred it.

And pranks aren't universal in this world. Perhaps her culture doesn't know anything about them. I'm from the U.S., and I don't care for them at all. I will change the station or channel when I hear that someone is about to do one.

I keep reading that all the nurse did was 'transfer a call'. Did you people "read" the article? She took a call that was transferred to her ( as she was the attending nurse ) and gave private information to the doo doo heads on the radio..... This is in itself a crime... among a list of other unhappy things to do and say.

I can't imagine that anyone would realize they had just done such a thing and not feel very very very sick to their stomach. I can't imagine either that any amount of consolation from anyone in particular would help her feel better.... Seriously, the Nominal head of an important nation calls for information on a young patient under your care, who happens to be a huge celebrity in her own right , "Hey, I don't believe you are the Queen so get off this line or I'll have the police on you"! I don't think so... Just try putting yourself in this young woman's shoes and re think what your actions would be....

These DJ's don't belong in broadcasting being too immature lacking common sense in not considering the possible consequences of their stupid joke. They got bitten in their a$$e$ and likely will lose jtheir jobs because of public outcry. Honest mistakes aren't an excuse and a pass when the consequences are of this nature and severity.

Evening cmk..they have not lost their jobs, they have just been stood down..as they are "shattered".To be honest over here people have had a gutfull of "moron DJ's" over the last few years. I really hope this makes a few of them think before they speak but I doubt it. Most of them are a "plank short of a load" anyway.

It was a stupid prank (dj's all across the world do this for publicity and to increase ratings). I totally believe that they never thought they would get through. As far as the nurse, she should have never transferred the call through. It's patient privacy. In America, it is called HIPPA and it is a big deal. By law. to get any information released, you have to provide the patient's account number (usually a medical record number). This nurse realized she screwed up (as did the one who gave the info). In America, they would be fired immediately, especially when it concerns a prominent figure. It is sad for the nurse's family; however, I think the nurse realized she was facing bigger troubles than just public humiliation.

cmk - It does sound as though you work for the station. Those two schmucks should be indicted for wrongful death. Hopefully, the station manager, who no doubt approved the action of these numbnuts, should be fired along with them, and indicted.

Welcome to the age of reality TV, Bill. That is why I don't have TV. I get enough garbage from the internet already. Common decency and respect for one's privacy went out the window in this age of electronic information; human intellectual and moral capacities clearly has not caught up with technology.

This is certainly a tragedy.

What about her employment conditions? Certainly it isn't out of the realm of possibility that her supervisors did not handle the prank well, also it is possible that there was already a hostile working environment at the hospital.

I absolutely agree. She was probably ridiculed and this usually results in suspension without pay. On top of this, who is going to hire her after this? This is so sad.

Well said Bill.

@ Across the pond~ Last train to bitterville! All aboard!!

Sheesh! Make sure you don't miss the train!

Make sure you're on it Beth because you come across as bitter yourself! Guess my comments touched a nerve with you apparantlly

What Mel Greig and Michael Christian probably have not understood, during their short time on the planet, is that the world is NOT one great big "theme park" and that there are always consequences for everything that a person does. This incident has caused outrage and anger all over the world, and rightly so. Quite a few people, [especially on the 2-Day FM website] haved used the excuse that there must have been something wrong with the nurse, or she must have had problems or issues in her life to have committed suicide over a "harmless prank", but the truth of the matter is that Mel Greig, Michael Christian and the station's management are the people who have something wrong with them. None of them understand the meaning of the words "respect" or "empathy". I will say it again: they should be dismissed immediately, and never again be allowed to work in an industry where their immaturity and stupidity has any influence over anyone or any thing.

I like the way you think Grant,and couldn't agree more with the points you've made.

Greig and Christian...Australia's version of Beavis and Butthead. I suspect they're probably too dense to realize what they've done.

Joke's on them.....

What??? Not the fault of these two a**H***s? Unbelievable thinking.

Australia is not alone with this type of idiocy that is presented as comedy. Many times, as you state, it is vicious and done by a non-thinking person(s). Very sad! In this instance, these two fools should be legally punished. If not a legal action, then it might be time for a civil case to strip them of all they own. If Australia deems it best to deport these two a**h***s please don't send them to a radio station in the states. We have enough misfits of our own posing as media comics.

If people can't stop having a bit of fun we might as well all give up the ghost. It was a damn good prank, taking the mickey of the royal couple. And she had to go and spoil everything. Don't expect Americans to have any sense of humour being a bunch of pseudo moral self indulging politically correct religious perverts who are even more bigoted than the horde of imbecilic true believers.

WOW she killed herself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sounds like alot of people got picked on in school. If she would have did her job properly we wouldnt be at this place.I hate it that a human life was cut short but working in a hospital and being alittle OFF yes OFF anyone that does that is off there rocker

Orlando - excellent!

Evening Sherman..very well said. What is the difference to doing this and making a hoax call to "000" or "911" over there..total brain dead morons and I do not defend them in the slightest..they are a massive embarrassment to my country and we are not amused.

If it turns out she killed herself over a prank why should anyone be prosecuted. She has a high profile, high security patient in her hospital and allows information to shared over the phone to someone she can not verify. Was the nurse following proper protocol, if not the nurse should have been facing reprimand. If you fools would stop following what these royals do every minute of the day this would have never happened either.

Good morning Sherman... I have to agree with shona1, very well said!

It's sad that we now live in a social media world where people are hurtful either through words or through hoax at the expense of someone elses feelings and for the nurse to take her life is no different than those who killed themselves over smaller things (i.e. the young girl who hung herself over a neighbors facebook crank, led to believe that the boy she liked had a crush on her, only to find out it was the neighbor's mother playing a crank). These two radio DJ's are no different than the typical bully and they should be fired for their actions!

My heart goes out to the nurse's family and to the two kids which now lost their mother, their protector, thier rock!

It is very tragic the nurse took her own life. Her family will suffer the most. BUT, this blame cannot be put on the DJ's. It was a prank that went horribly wrong. There is no one to blame other than the royal family should have had better protocol with their staff and security. It was NOT the responsibility of the nurse or the hospital to be able to determine what calls go through to their "royal" patient. I' m just so saddened that Saldenha obviously put so much unnecessary blame on herself. If anyone sholuld apologize it should be the royal security NOT th DJ's or the hospital. These days. Saldenha could have used this publicity to her benefit rather than her demise. Again, I'm just so sorry for her soul and family that it had to come to such a tragic end during what should be a joyful time! The DJ's should also be forgiven. It is interesting that we have now just turned th blame from one person to another. Now, thse DJ's lives have been ruined. They will have to live with this guilt forever. How are they any different from popular shows such as Tosh.0 or The Soup.

These DJs should NOT be fired. They should never be allowed to prank anyone again, but not fired. They are not the cause the this nurse's suicidal (if and most likely it is) tendencies. Maybe suicidal tendencies are more prominent in her cultural background, where pranking is probably rare and shame is usually punished with non-conventional sanctions. I think this nurse decided her own judgment and fate for her "error" in not following proper protocols of the hospital or unfortunately by lax privacy hospital policies, which allowed the call through. Even moreso, the nurse should never have contemplated suicide. She was an adult and a caregiver. If caring for sick people everyday doesnt increase the desire for longevity, then individuals like her should never be a nurse. Its a job and it pays - but it certainly cant make one love those they care for....or worse yet - themselves!

Excuse me amature phychoanalist. But people brought up in other cultures feel differently than Americans. She most likely felt a great deal of shame for allowing the call to go through and devulging very confidential information to the public. Especially the royal couple. I am sure she got a severe repremand and maybe a threat of firing. We will see. Medical people are very serious people on the whole.