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Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images
Jacintha Saldanha's son Junal, husband Benedict Barboza and daughter Lisha leave Westminster Cathedral in central London following a service of Thanksgiving for the life of the nurse on Saturday.
Updated at 9:17 a.m. ET: LONDON -- The family of a nurse who was duped into putting through a prank phone call to the hospital ward of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge delivered a tearful tribute to her on Saturday, saying her death had left "an unfillable void."
Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found hanging from a wardrobe in staff lodgings at London's King Edward VII Hospital days after she answered the hoax phone call from two Australian DJs.
Wiping away tears outside London's Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral where the family attended Mass, her husband Benedict said, "part of me has been ripped out."
"The events of the past week have shattered our lives and we barely have the strength to withstand the grief and sorrow," he told reporters, thanking Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, for kind words as well as Prime Minister David Cameron for a message of condolence.
"Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection and understanding will be cherished forever in my life. Your loss is a very painful one and nobody can take that place in my life ever again. I love you and miss you forever."
Her children Lisha, 14, and Junal, 16, spoke of a generous mother who had worked tirelessly to provide for them.
Royal prank call: Duped nurse was found hanging, also had wrist injuries
"The house is an empty dwelling without your presence. We are shattered and there is an unfillable void in our lives," Lisha said. "We love you mum, sleep in peace and please watch over us until we meet again in heaven."
Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images
Lisha Saldanha, the daughter of late nurse Jacinda Saldanha, looks on as her family read statements outside Westminster Cathedral on Saturday.
A private memorial service was held Friday at the King Edward VII Hospital, where Saldanha worked, and another at St Teresa's Church in Bristol, where the nurse's family lived.
AFP - Getty Images
An undated family photograph of Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who died after being hoaxed by an Australian radio show trying to reach Prince William's wife in London, is shown to journalists in Shirva town, some 250 miles from the southern Indian city of Bangalore, on Dec. 8, 2012.
"King Edward VII's is a small hospital, with a tight-knit team," John Lofthouse, the hospital's chief executive, said in a statement. "Everybody knew Jacintha, and we were all left deeply shocked by her tragic death following the hoax telephone call. Today's Service was a chance for everyone here to pay their respects and remember a dear colleague."
Memorial services for Saldanha were held Thursday in India.
Saldanha lived and worked in London during the week, but traveled to see her family in Bristol on weekends.
She was found by a colleague and a member of security staff at King Edward VII's Hospital on Friday, coroner's officer Lynda Martindill told a formal hearing into the circumstances of her death called an inquest.
DJs speak out, say they're 'heartbroken' over death of nurse in royal hoax call
Police detective chief inspector James Harman told the hearing that the married mother-of-two had injuries to her wrists.
He also said that three handwritten notes were found, two at the scene and one among her belongings.
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Leave a Comment:
Do I have this story right. She falls for a DJ's prank phone call and then kills herself because of the incident? How tragic.
Howmanyfingers: I must echo your statement; this woman's death is a tragedy.
But I cannot seem to grasp the reasoning behind her death. Did she actually commit suicide because she received, and then believed, a prank telephone call? If so, I fail to understand why such a non-event would cause her such angst. So while I regret the tragedy, I also realize that this woman's thinking process was quite warped. She is not a heroine.
Her part in the "prank" lasted 6 seconds and consisted of "hold on, I'll get my supervisor". It has been reported that her co-workers were constantly hassling her. The bullying is more than likely the reason for her deciding to kill herself. Or maybe she was simply unstable.
Unless you are a medical worker, you can not even begin to understand the "Why" of it. HIPPA rules and regulations provides protection for personal health information, in this the case, for the hospital.
There are stiff fines, penalties, and even criminal prosecution for sharing private health information on any patient.
The poor behavior of these DJ's left two people open to not only loss of job, but the other penalties involved as well. Not only was the health information provided to someone not entitled to it, but it involved that of the Royals. This is a serious offense. Not only because it was the Royals, but it is a serious violation of law in anyone's case. While in the USA we can not provide any information over the phone, England does. Not a good policy because you truly do not know with whom you are speaking.
The nurses nationality makes me think that the dupe lead to a huge dishonor, and thus the consequence she took to heart. Tragic.
RIP - and may those responsible for the dupe have learned a valuable lesson.
You do realize that HIPPA rules don't apply to England, right? She must have had many other issues before this. Maybe the straw that broke the camels back, but I in no way hold the DJs responsible.
I'd love to take the time to explain to you fools (except Renee) why this woman killed herself but I'm way too tired, perhaps if you would like to stalk my page and find the comment I left for someone else then you'd understand. For now, however, I'm just content to call you imbeciles, uncultured pieces of @!$%#s, and culturally retarded. That is all.
The nurse was not American. She is of a different Culture. Not sure her Nationality.
Other Nationalities do not understand jokes or pranks like Americans--especially Muslims, Asians or anyone else who's life is dedicated solely to G-d and their work---how do we know what was in her head?
Everyone's personality is different. Most likely she was wholely dedicated to her career, and was shamed. The Hospital Shamed her, public humiliation, and possibly the Royal Family.
Edward VII is the British Royals Hospital; a hospital in which they utterly trust the Professionals there. How can one avoid the Character Assassination of the Screaming Tabloids and newspapers--
The two pranksters should be charged with a crime. The guy looks like an idiot; no brains.
May this woman rest in peace now.
Dear Baldman, You are so wise, we all bow at your feet, Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to set all of us fithy masses strait. Bless you bless you
Funny Richard, but it doesn't take anything away from the fact that the lot of you are cultural imbeciles. That something which should be so patently obvious to anyone with a functioning brain needs explaining is a far too depressing notion to entertain, so I'm just going to pretend you lot aren't really as stupid as you seem.
Jim in Auburn - "You do realize that HIPPA rules don't apply to England, right"?
You are wrong. USA calls it "HIPAA" and the UK calls it "DPA". (Data Protection Act). Same code of ethics, different name.
The only difference I know of is this: USA - no information in regards to any patient is given over the phone. In the UK, they do.
This prank was a really stupid thing to do. But I agree that it was certainly not reason for suicide. This nurse must have had some kind of serious mental issues for this to happen.
@BMette and Catzenjammer
I am biting my tongue and trying to be civil in response to both your callous, unfeeling comments.
This Nurse was a conscientious, caring and loyal employee, working in the UK, which is ruled by the very proper, very well-respected HRH Queen Elizabeth. This Nurse felt the responsibility not only of a member of the medical profession but also as somewhat a subject to the Queen. This Nurse was entrusted with the care of an very important member of the royal family - not only with her physical care, but with the implicit protection of the privacy of any information concerning her. She carried all these responsibilities with a zealous determination to execute them most excellently. She was probably even proud to have attained such a position of responsibility in a career already filled with moral responsibilities.
This Nurse felt the only recourse for her failure to meet the standards required in her career and her position was to forfeit her life in apology and atonement. She was not warped; she did not have "some kind of serious mental issues." She had fealty. When that fealty was broached, no matter the cause, she had no other option.
You would not make the same comments about the Captain who goes down with his ship, or the honest man who loses all his money due to whims of the economy and takes his life because he can no longer support his family, or his employees, and so on - would you? Please, try to have the same understanding and empathy for this woman.
Hi Catz,
I don't know about "serious mental issues" What I can tell you, is that life does not happen in a vacuum.
This may have been the proverbial "last straw".
Have you ever thought that you couldn't cope with one more negative incident? Problems with your in-laws?
Problems with your kids? Debts that keep increasing? Your car broke down this morning. You found a lump in your breast. The dog died (and she was the only one that listened to you). And then the floor caves in.
Suicide should never be the solution. especially for a parent with young children. But sometimes even the strongest among us find ourselves in dark and hopeless places, longing for "peace".
I dont know what this person was going through, but being internationally embarrassed evidently was the last straw. I'm not here to call her a hero. I don't think anyone has. I'd just like to point out that where a random acts of kindness have saved lives, This is a case were a stupid cruel thoughtless act can and did contribute to a death.
Wow, so Australia pays adults to make illegal juvenile crank phone calls. Class act. These two twits never should have been hired in the first place. "Mean girl meets silly golden boy", talent? was it even on the application. I haven't heard much of their "work" but the picture I'm getting sounds like two spoiled professional bullies.
"Let's laugh at people and get payed for it!" Lovely! Oh yeah, I forgot, if no-one listened to this "stuff", there wouldn't be a market. Hmm....
Hi Bryda,
Thanks for writing. You present a very important take on what this woman chose to do. But honor and suicide should not be equated. I wish that no one would suicide ever. In Japan it's seen as the kind of "honorable" way to "go down with the ship". Well, what about all of those you leave behind holding the bag. Oh yeah, some folks "take" there kids with them. But what about the business partners? Brothers and sisters? friends?
At least Ms Saidanha spared her kids, but then again, did she. They will grow up motherless because of the choice she made. Her friends and family will forever wonder if they could have stopped this if only they'd made one more phone call, or hoped on a train of plane to go and give her support. I realize that I'm getting really close to falling into the "blame the victim" group.
But I am very wary of comments that justify, or affirm the taking of ones own life.
To This Nurse, I would have first liked to have assured her that "Life" would once again get better. She was so young, and life had so much in store. She even had kids to watch grow." Secondly I would have tried to guilt trip her out of ending her life. I've just lost a third friend to "the opt out option". I feel terrible, and I'm just a friend. Imagine what the families go through. Once again, the kids.
In answer to your question:
Well, actually I would be as critical of the people in these situations. If the captain is giving up his seat on the life boat....) But then again, there should have been enough life boats. Other wise, I don't see the point.
Bryda, how do you know what kind of nurse this woman was? Did you know what was in her heart? And even if she was all that you claim her to be, what she did was a very selfish act!!! Regardless of the circumstances surrounding suicide, the common denominator is ALWAYS selfishness. It just amazes me how when somebody dies they instantly become this superhuman that has never ever done any wrong, that was loved by everyone, blah, blah, blah. It troubles me that folks can't speak honestly about how they feel about a situation without being accused of being less than; whether he be cold and callous, a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, etc. I wonder if her children as they grow up without a mother are going to view her in the same light? I wonder how her children lives are going to be impacted by this absolutely wonderful nurse? Perhaps she may have been all that as a nurse, but she sure as hell sucked as a mother!!!!!!!
Hi pandy,
Ouch! Harsher than polite conversation might suggest, but if it will help one person who is considering taking the "honorable way out" that there is no "honor" in suicide, then I'm with you.
Life can get better, unless you give up.
Then it can become hell for those you leave behind.
Nurse Saidanha may have found "peace", but her family probably never will.
Bryda
Have you heard the phone call? Apparently not. She gave out no information at all.She said "hold on I'll get my supervisor". The supervisor then told the "queen" the business. It was not a state secret that a member of the royal family was being cared for there.
Besides, most Brits nowadays do not consider themselves to be the subjects of the royal family and have not for many years. They tolerate them out of tradition.
"Bryda
This Nurse felt the only recourse for her failure to meet the standards required in her career and her position was to forfeit her life in apology and atonement. She was not warped; she did not have "some kind of serious mental issues." She had fealty. When that fealty was broached, no matter the cause, she had no other option."
To start with you are making a rather LARGE assumption about someone you probably don't even know and even if you knew her I'm sure she didn't tell you why she was killing herslef before she did. So please don't act like you know anything about this women.
Second if she killed herself over a prank call, and one that wasn't really all that bad, then her thinking is warped and not normal and she had plenty of other options. You know like laugh it off and be a good sport or if she was mad take up with he radio stations management or sue them or anything other than suicide. Suicide her only option? Only if your warped in the head , kind of like you sound.
Pandy - "Bryda, how do you know what kind of nurse this woman was"?
Did you read the entire article(s) since being published. All the articles stated " The immediate consequence had been the humiliation of two "dedicated and caring" nurses, he said. Stated by The hospital's chairman Lord Glenarthur. Her own co-workers stated the same.
Unless you have walked in someone's shoes - you can't judge.
@Bryda - you are spot on with your comments. Thank you for sharing.
The ignorant will remain ignorant. Some things just can't be changed.
Bryda.... Why bother to try to explain to folks who do not want to or/and will never understand what you are saying or know what you are talking about. It is a foreign viewpoint/concept to the many where crass behaviour is admired and may now be even the norm, thus it is difficult or nigh on impossible to explain 'honor' where honor is perhaps unknown or 'honorable' behaviour is perhaps viewed as being weak, wussy or practicing socialism... LOL
Anyhoo....... there are the many or those folks who keep screaming that this person has no 'class' and that person is 'classless' etc, all the while not even understanding what is meant by 'class' in the first place. Some folks seem to think that having lots of money equates to having lots of class... or to be or being rich automatically awards that rich person or those rich persons with 'class'. Perhaps they are unaware that being rich does not make the person 'classy' nor being poor make a person 'classless', thus many are yet to realize that Class is more about one's behaviour and how one interacts with and treats others rather than about one's financial holdings/assets.
Therein lies the problem with trying to make others understand Nurse Saldanha actions in the end because it it unlikely that they would have felt as distraught and distroyed about the situation as she did. They would have brazened it out, laughed it off without any qualms, while there was others who would not care less perhaps knowing that there would be no reprocussions for them.
Often it is not so for those 'other' people who are the ones who would have felt- the shock, mortification, horror, hurt so deeply even to simply feeling hollow- so emotionally distraught and professionally destroyed on one level for something as simple as falling for a hoax call and on another level because he/she would be made to look gullible, a fool, a weak link, unfit for the task or job, not being of that level or up to par, not able to be part of, and thus not capable of being trusted or 'fitting in..wink wink' beyond a certain level, to even maybe being looked upon as being unworthy of the position which one had or have attained even after many hard years while for others it may be thought that the only reason why they are where they are is due to 'assistance' or to fill a quota rather than due to these persons being qualified, capable knowledgable hard workers......
For how long would she have been trusted and allowed to continue to work in such a high security clearance setting, with such high profile 'private' patients etc in this day and age- especially when there was this constant reminder of the act of being duped playing in the media, with them constantly rubbing her face in it, being the butt of jokes, resulting in loss of face, reputation, position earned from hard work, which could have also lead to her family members also being rediculed/ losing status etc.....
Imagine the on the job scapegoating that had already began.... after all we were already hearing how this nurse took the call, but not how the media folks knew which ward to call or how they got the call through in the first place.
A life spent caring for others in their most vulnerable state, to include caring for the high profile folks who may even be admitted under another name, and where the thought of discussing a patient's private info with others outside of the medical team would be unheard of and would never be done no matter what..... came to an end and for what?..... a joke and a bit of rating hike for a couple of djs in radio who may have been looking to make a name for themselves at the expense of someone else?
It appears that Nurse Saldanha took the initial call to the ward then believing it was valid passed the call on through to the nurse at the bedside- which lead the bedside nurse to believe that the call and callers were indeed valid, and leading the bedside nurse to give more personal medical info to the persons on the phone, who later turned out not to be family members at all but rather radio DJs. One can only hope the info conned out of the hospital by the djs was just minor stuff like the up chucking and not more personal medical info..... but then who knows..
Odd though that the call was not vetted before being transferred to the ward. On the other hand if the call did not go through the hospital switchboard, how did these djs know which ward the Duchess was on and get the direct number to/for that ward? Just wondering.....
Anyhoo.... for a supposed joke and a bit of so called fun by 2 djs the nurse who took the initial call life is distroyed and she is now dead, leaving a husband and 2 children. Imagine the feeling of deep pain and horror that Nurse Saldanha, who perhaps took her nursing oath seriously, must have felt and her life had become under the circumstances.... Due to being duped by media personnel, her life and that of her family is distroyed even as her patient and patient's family were being rediculed and thus hurt in the media regarding a very private health issue. Perhaps all this may have lead her to her conclusion that ending her life was her only way to stop the emotional/psychological suffering and distruction for all concerned.
What the DJs did was unconsciencionable and wrong period..... private/personal health issues are off limits especially as it pertains to the spouse and children of the person in the public eye imo.
Well everyone reacts to things differently... some folks can brazen things out, while some folks do not feel they can..... so they take things out on themselves or on others..... hmmm
May Nurse Saldanha RIP.
Peace...... love..... respect .......care and consideration for others.....
While most people look at this and wonder how anyone could be affected very much this prank, we really are only able to look at this from our own culture and experiences in life.This nurse was from India, a country where honor killing still take place, including last Thursday, when a very thirsty man from a low caste touched a water handle on a hot day and was killed for it.
In addition, bringing shame on ones self, or their family, can be seen as worse then death. Just look at Japan's history. By taking ones life, it removes the dishonor. This may have been a possibility. Her employer may also have applied pressure, because after all, this was a royal family member she had helped private information get out about.The hospital is not going to admit if they gave her a hard time, after the fact of her death.
Last, after the DJ's broadcast the recording, it was picked up by news stations and everyone repeatedly played it, including the DJ's and laughed at her, for being so stupid, an idiot, calling her names. Nobody said it was wrong. It wasn't until after her death, people suddenly said it was inappropriate to be deceptive.
So for three days as far as this nurse heard, the whole world was laughing at her and calling her names.What were her children hearing about their mother at school? None of us, I am guessing has ever been the butt of jokes and ridicule around the world. Especially in a country that clings onto every word, picture and incident that has to do with royalty.And it was that nurse's responsibility to protect a royal. She failed in her mind terribly and the whole world laughed at her for it.
This woman went to a government house after her job, alone each day.It probably didn't help. Plus this may have been something she didn't want her family to see back in India. The point is, we are not in her shoes, her culture, or what she was going through. If she was a very private person, this might have been way more than she could handle. We all have different buttons that make us vulnerable.
As far as the service at Westminster. Normally that is reserved for royalty and people of high born status. Somebody like the Queen pulled strings. Very kind of them to do this.I wish the family the best in maintaining their privacy in this whole matter.It really is very sad.
I assumed that there were several mitigating factors. Primarily, one would have to have suicidal tendency to begin with. Moreover, according to European News, the nurse's suicide letter stated that she blamed hospital management for chastising her and not supporting her. I assume she was shouted so perhaps that pushed her over the edge. However, staff has vehemently denied that they were not supportive even though the letter left for the hospital states otherwise. According to the suicide note left behind she also blamed the radio staffers. I know everyone wants to think that the royal family is soft spoken, gentle and kind. However, how do we know that the queen didn't call the hospital indignantly to verbalize their displeasure and asked who was responsible; therefore, perhaps, the manager immediately took it out on the Indian nurse. Furthermore, why didn't the nurse who actually gave out the information commit suicide or get reprimanded for not recognizing a fake accent? Also the media has massacred the d.j.'s which has led the to death threats against the radio duo. Some of the anger is misdirected because the suicide nurse only did her job by sending the call through. Why isn't some of the inappropriate anger directed at the woman who divulged personal information and to the manager who berated the nurse who committed suicide? Of course, as humans we should sympathise with the poor nurse who killed herself, but we must also empathize with the two radio pranksters who did not intend harm. Here in Austria, Krone hits radio station does a prank every morning called "kleine Nils" where an adult d.j.,pretends to be a little kid, calls a random person, daily extracting information, and no one has ever committed suicide. Nevertheless, it is tragic that she thought her despair was deeper than the pain her children, hospital, two radio personalities, and the like, will endure for many years to come.
Hi 1forall,
I'm with you up until the point at which you try and get us to feel sorry for the "D.J."s.
If entertainment is so hard to come by in Austria that crank calls are a steadfast for your mornings... Well, then again, I've seen the parallels all over the world. But think about it. When kids do this, we call it bullying. So where do they learn this stuff? "Professional Adults!"
I remember a "B" film form my youth were some teen age girls got their kicks by calling people and saying,
"I Know who you are, I saw what you did". I think I must be talking about the remake, or was it on late-night TV? Anyway, my parents wouldn't let me see it. I believe the girls accidentally get mixed up in a real murder.
And then they themselves almost get them selves killed. Poor stupid teen-age girls. Poor stupid, payed to bully and embarrass and possible do great harm to other peoples lives "D.J.s"...
Naw, I don't feel sorry for the "DJ"s. But I do think any one that listened and laughed at their "show" in the past, and now condemns them, is a hypocrite.
The difference between the jokes you used as examples and this one is simple: This one was guaranteed to be publicized world wide. The DJs, I am sure, counted on that. Jacintha's name and face were publicized world wide as the one who fell for the prank, regardless of the truth.
Whatta Crock! Theres more to this womens suicide! that isn't being said! Maybe her DOT wouldn't STICK!
Studio Steve you apparently are not funny outside of your circle and I would say of friends but people who lack social graces as much as you do rarely have friends. I hope that others will be more compassionate than you are when despair visits you.
Princess Di was a Tragedy! This is BALONEY!
I am a nurse and know of stories in the US involving nurses who have committed suicide due to errors that compromised patients. I believe this stemmed from the Hospital's lack of support, most likely the possibility of threatening her job AND her licensure. When it boils down to it, there was a violation of privacy, which is AGAINST policy. Regardless if it were accidental, she broke the policy, therefore, she lost support of her hospital. I know that the US does not tolerate HIPPA violations and gladly go after licenses, jobs, and impose hefty fines. I don't know about UK laws, however, I do know there ARE reports of her notes alluding towards some kind of lack of support. It was her career, a huge part of her life and livelihood. In such a caring environment, you would think they would care for their own, but unfortunately that is not the case. Such a tragedy.
spinrn -I am a nurse...I know that the US does not tolerate HIPPA violations and gladly go after licenses, jobs, and impose hefty fines.
As one who has worked in emergency medicine, there is no HIPPA.
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Just to clarify it for all those who might want to know the actual correct name.
Windancersong....wow. Of course there is HIPPA, if you worked in ANY kind of medicine, which I doubt, you would know that MOST healthcare workers address the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" as HIPPA! Hello???!!! It is like JCAHO..... we address The Joint Comission as "JACO". You only want to start fights... go to another forum if you want to incite arguments, jerk!
HIPPA vs HIPAA no holds barred! Two nurses enter! One nurse leaves!
There is no ill intention meant. For anyone who wants to look up information on this matter, they will not find the information they want if they enter the HIPPA.No matter how hard they try.They will be directed, however to HIPAA. It was for this intention, I made the original correction.
the over all point should be the dj's had no right to impersonate somebody to get information. it was cruel and evil,anything for a story to shock.unfortunately somebody committed suicide over it. now the family has to deal with the aftermath. nobody has the right to think they knew how this nurse felt. i can't imagine the pressure to dealing with a royal family member. you would feel everything should be perfect for them while admitted.i'm sure the hospital put extra pressure on all who dealt with the royals. it's just extremely sad that a nurse took her life.
In my opinion she was already Suicidal before the incident with the phone call. But after all she is a "Minority" and we Must shower "Minorities" with our Affection. Anybody else and this wouldn't even have gotten a mention in the news.
It is a good thing that your opinion doesn't count....and your ignorance even more so.
Studio Steve here is a friend for you. Tarzan sounds like he has similar bigoted ideas and could probably also use a friend since he too lacks social graces. So Tarzan are you Asian since Asians are the only global non-minorities
If Prince William had time to go to the Hobbit Premiere, he could have come to this memorial service, or met privately with the family. It appears that the Palace is running as far away from this is they can, and so is the hospital. SUSPICIOUS. The nurse cited how badly she was treated by senior staff at the hospital after the prank call in one of her suicide notes. This is horrific, and something is really off in the way the Royal PR machine and the hospital seem to be colluding to blame everything on the DJ's. I think this has the power to become the biggest royal scandal yet.
Why didn't Prince William attend the memorial service, or meet with the family privately? Wouldn't that have been the honorable thing for him to do as a future king, rather than attend the Hobbit premiere? I think this is a little more important. Has anyone else noticed how fast the Palace is trying to run away from this? SUSPICIOUS. The nurse made it very clear in one of her suicide notes how badly senior hospital staff treated her after the prank call.
Now it almost seems as though the Palace PR machine and the hospital are colluding to shift all of the blame for this woman's death on the two DJ's who made the call. This whole thing is so sketchy, and there had better be a full, thorough, real investigation into why this woman was under so much pressure over this that she took her own life. This could end up being the royal familys biggest scandal yet.
Why would he want to meet or contact the Family of the nurse? I wouldn't if I were a Prince. She was only a Suicidal Nurse. People commit suicide every day, he can't meet all the families.
How do you know that William hasn't spoken to the family? Because it wasn't in the media? I'm sure he knows that public compassion is often for show. Since he seems like a caring person, I think he probably spoke to them privately.
My guess is that he didn't go to the memorial because the royal family decided the emphasis should be on Jacintha, not them.
Finally, one comment has got it right. Spinrn in post #9 has correctly summarized what likely occurred after the juvenile prank.
In my career, I have known nurses who have been thrown under the proverbial bus by their employer hospital. Particularly if the nurse draws negative attention to her employer in any way. And yes, nurses take their jobs and their professional licenses very seriously. Those things become part of the nurse's identity.
Personally during my long career, I have known two nurses who attempted suicide after job related incidents. There is even an inside joke about a suicidal nurse's two best friends.
RIP Nurse Jacintha.
Sorry i think she was having some prior issues....scars on her wrists..maybe not the first suicide attempt. We used to all laugh at Candid Camera...but they may have obtained releases before the stunts were aired. Almost all of us have laughed at "shock jocks" ... if people think these two are so evil, my suggestion is to stop listening. Nothing gets you off the air faster than no audience.
Spinrn in post #9....echo, echo echo...ditto,ditto,ditto
I'm with Maggieadela on this as well. In the US, being deeply involved in the medical field, nurses have lost their license, and one hospital and Doctor fined over $400,000 for what would seem a small HIPPA violation. The Doctor knows an employee at another work sight where the Doctor is also a contract employee. When an employee becomes seriously ill. other employees in management ask the good doctor to find out what were the results of an operation, the Doctor calls one of his nurses at the station who gives him the results and then the good Doctor passes this on to the employees boss. Although they were just concerned to find out if the employee was O.K., the hospital I.T. department noticed the breech and contacted admin, who called the doctor and forced the doctor to call the employee/patient and apologize. The employee got an attorney and the rest was history. Nurse was fired, Doctor was fined and the Hospital was fined. If you don't work in the medical field, you'll have less understanding, however, all medical professional have to go through extensive training on all laws involving HIPPA, this includes Firefighters and police officers as they attend to those who are injured or sick in the "field". So yes HIPPAS in the U.S. is huge and in the U.K. laws are similar, however, any matter involving the Royals is a matter of National pride and honor if one in the general public is involved at any extent. As for her participation and the level she participated...it doesn't matter. Outside the hospital, nobody will ever know what type of pressure they put on these employees after the event or even what level of threats to their job, license or professional well being took place... the rest is all speculation.
As I type this I realize how the new social media have become the current day "lynch mob of the old wild west. Drag em' out of the house and hang em' before we get the real facts.
For those who "feel" for the D.J.'s Australian law is very clear like in the US. You cannot play any audio recording of any individual unless you have the written permission of that individual. The penalty is a minimum of 5 year in prison and a felony, and year this is Australian law. The radio station director and the two attorneys who work for the station and vetted the tape telling the director it would be O.K. to run without the permission granted are all three facing hard times as well. This is why the station made four phone calls to the Hospital to get the permission of the nurses...without success by the way and following its release, and yes this is documented, and this is why they offered the family over $500,000. Too much speculation against the nurse....too much corporate arrogance with the radio station and too little personal responsibility for any action or outcome but, hey, that the world we live in today.
Obviously, the media is still looking for blood on this one. Look at the title: nurse duped in royal prank call. They can't even use her name in case people don't recognize who she is and don't read the article. They'll milk this as long as they can - and still won't use her name.
If all the people I've played pranks on over the years decided to kill themselves then I'd be responsible for the biggest cull in history. I think the circus around this is going too far she decided to commit suicide and it happens all the time.
She judged the matter, so let her be. Pay her family off and let them go on and stop memorializing this woman's embarassing display of "drama queen syndrome".
Nursing is a high pressure job. Every day nurses see human suffering and death. The prank call was just enough to push her over the edge and commit suicide. She may have felt her efforts to help people in hospital were destroyed by the prank, and she had no future in her beloved profession.
The prank call was a compassionless act on a person filled with compassion.
First of all, my deepest sympathies to the family of this woman. There is always speculation, but seldom real understanding about why someone takes their own life. As others have said, there must have been other things going on in her life for her to do this. It has to be more than embarrassment for accidentally giving out information. Only she really knew why she did what she did. I do think, however, that pranks such as the one that happened here, are really only funny to the prankster and perhaps others with a juvenile sense of "humor", and are often humiliating and demeaning to the person being pranked if they fall for it. This must have been something that was the last straw, and for some reason pushed this woman over the edge. The pranksters, as well as her family, will have to live with what happened. Sad, sad story.
As a child, I would want to ask Jacintha why is it that she considered her job to be the first and only priority in her life. The mother was a very very prideful and selfish person and obviously and obviously thought she was immune to humiliation, which is a necessary emotion for healthy character building. I find it appalling that she left her kids to fend for themselves and obviously with a loud message for them to decipher. Hopefully, unless Jacintha, the kids will come to the conclusion that "life is not all about Jacintha"....as Jacintha thought. This woman should not be memorialized - but her behavior condemned. Much more human character and grace would have been displayed had she lived through the repercussions of her actions and saw this incident through to its entirety. The true embarassment was shown in her suicide.
My sympathy to the family, but I have to agree with many of the comments, this women must have been dealing with other serious mental issues. I doubt we will ever know. The hospital will do every thing possible to hide their involvement and media, both news organizations and social media, will continue to speculate. I do not blame the DJ's, this was a prank, and as stated many times, she gave out no information, she only transferred a call.
really why why why would any body comment suicide because the royal a holes were duped by a radio station and why do we as Americans care about royalty didn't we kick there ass out of here several hundred years ago i mean come on blue blood royalty genetics sec pool dad looks like an IRS accountant and the kids going bald at 30 good genes huh she must of been a moron to kill her self for these losers give me a break
I'm sure the royals don't give a damn and you have some serious issues concerning history, by the way it was not several hundred years ago more like only 250 so get a life!
reddobie-When we look at the life of celebrities and some of the stuff they do, because of the stress of not having any privacy, how they deal with all the attention, turning to drugs, etc. we don't wonder. For someone from a different culture, how would we really know in all honesty? If one is threatened with losing their job,license, shamed according to their culture, where women have honor killings done. it is a whole different world. Something westerners simply would not understand. When Marco Polo returned no one believed him either.
well said windancersong...."If one is threatened with losing their job,license, shamed according to their culture, where women have honor killings done. it is a whole different world. Something westerners simply would not understand. When Marco Polo returned no one believed him either:"
...Problem with most people, they haven't traveled outside their own little town, let along another country. Traveling to many different countries and cultures ...you hit the nail on the head. No matter what you try to explain to these folks, they live in a plastic bubble and judge through the lens of a crystal ball. That way they can said anything to make them feel right, and not have the conscious of knowing they were really wrong!. Thanks for a good post!
Many of you on this forum lamenting how you just don't understand why this incident would cause her to take her own life are correct. You do not understand. Unless you have worked for a time in the health-care profession esp. the grunge work like floor nursing you cannot possibly understand just how ruthless and backstabbing it can be. Many people who go into the "helping" professions are nothing more than closet narcissists who want to make a big showing of how "caring" they are. This is why they go into the helping professions. They are just as sweet as pie and helpful as an angel when someone they deem important is watching. But when the camera is off so to speak their true nature comes out. They are often humorless, selfish, cruel people and vile to the core. And administration is just as bad or worse with their lip service about caring about staff safety and patient care. It's all bull@!$%# lies, and it's often the most caring and truly kind people in these professions that get shat upon on a daily basis.
I can almost guarantee that this woman's coworkers were only too happy to bad mouth her behind her back to anyone who would listen esp. management. And I'm certain she was gossiped about mercilessly and ailenated by her coworkers to the point of death. I'm going to bet she was threatened and harassed by administration at the same time they were professing to "care" about her wellbeing.
I've seen it all in my days of working in the healing professions, and I learned quickly that when you are a nurse (and by that I mean a real nurse who actually cares for patients at the bedside) you have no friends. You will work tirelessly in deplorable, stressful conditions ofen not even getting a potty break in a 12 hour shift. And for this you will be spit upon and hated by the public at every turn. They will hate you for not being fast enough or thorough enough even though you are doing the work of three or more people. You will be preached to by ignorant people who couldn't last two weeks doing you job. You will be blamed for a failed health-care system which you have no hand in creating and certainly no power to fix since the public views you with suspicion and outright hatred whenever and ifever you try to advocate for changes to patient/staff ratios or better, more humane working conditions. And lastly you'll be reminded of how lucky you are to have a job and how greedy you are for wanting a decent wage for the work you do and the enormous responsibility you have. People never ever complain about the wages of IT workers or other professions who make similar salaries or more and don't for a moment carry life or death responsibilities.
So yes, I do understand why she killed herself. After years of putting up with people's and societie's bull@!$%# I'm sure she just wanted some peace. The only good thing that might come out of this is that it hopefully will discourage her daughter and other young people from ever entering into this God forsaken profession. It warms my heart to think that this kind woman (and it is always the kind, gentle, caring ones who off themselves) is at peace now where these selfish hags cannot hurt her anymore. And now there will be one less naive, trusting, kind person at the bedside to care for you when you arrive.
I started out as a kind, trusting person who wanted to help people, but I got tough in a hurry. "I grew up quick and I grew up mean. My fists got heavy and my wits got keen," as the old Jonny Cash song says. So the next time you come through those doors whining and bitching you'll hopefully encounter someone hardened and cold like me because that's what society deserves.....HE HE HE....echoing laughter as I whilste down the hall.
Rest in peace, dear. I hope you have found what you are looking for. The only difference between you and me is that even though I feel as if I lost my soul years ago I'm still walking upright among the living. Often it gets harder and harder to resist though.
Nixon, I have known many people who have worked in health care, but don't any longer just because of the atmosphere you have mentioned. I know that in my area, at least half the job openings are in health care, but I know that in my strongest day, I could never do it for any amount of money. You sound like you should really find something else to do. You sound really close to the mindset this woman may have had, and for your sake and that of your family, change professions now.
Very well said Nixon.
My wife has been a nurse for thirty two years and Nixon is so correct on many levels. Again many on these posts have no idea what happens behind the walls of a hospital. Nurses keep giving because "that's what nurses do". And that's what they've done from the beginning of the nursing profession. Its never been about the money or the glory. Nurses bring the patients back to health more so than any medication can. Regardless of how the patient is, nurses treat them all the same and when there is no more to give....they find someplace deep inside, grab it and give a little more. I'm sure this nurse had the same characteristics because you don't make it in nursing unless you do.
*sigh* Just do home care like I do! One-on-one care in the home is awesome! Everybody loves you for the work you do, especially since your care is focused entirely on themselves or their loved one.
I do get bored when I have a client that is too simple to care for, though. There is no perfect work environment. I worked with a gal who used to be a nurse on an emergency helicopter and other people in high-stress roles. Home care is a good place to go after experiences like yours. It pays less but I can get a side job and work a couple of extra 12 hr shifts easily enough. Although sometimes I work too many hours I'm never exhausted. One of my clients used to have a nurse in her 80's. You can do it almost your whole life rather than when your body and/or emotional reserves run out! I won't leave this setting except to open my own Adult Family Home, which I am eventually planning to do.
I am in so much pain. It scares me sometimes, but here I am alive for another day. :-/
Hang in there Nixon. I share your feelings. And I'm long retired.
People who do not work in health care just cannot understand. I wager every nurse who ever lived has uttered your previous vent at least once in their career. It felt good just to read it.