Suspected suicide in K.Middleton prank call

[mbcdefg]

Holy geez

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244608/Kate-Middleton-hospital-receptionist-duped-Australian-DJs-prank-dies-suspected-suicide.html

ETA: I originally put "nurse" in the subject line but it looks like it was the receptionist who fielded the prank call.

[zarapipe]

That is so sad

[dcannie]

that poor woman.

[aspentosh]

That's horrible.

[maplesyrup]

How sad.

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

So sad, I didn't hear anything about a prank till I just read your article. Then I just listened to it on You Tube... crazy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa5JQC8VNdw

[raangoli]

That is so sad.

ETA: The radio station is apologizing for the "inconvenience" caused by the call? I assume that this was prior to this news of the receptionist, but it seems like they are missing the point. It was a little more than that...

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2012 10:20:09 GMT -5 raangoli said:

That is so sad.

ETA: The radio station is apologizing for the "inconvenience" caused by the call? I assume that this was prior to this news of the receptionist, but it seems like they are missing the point. It was a little more than that...

Yeah, apparently they apologized, but the DJ's are still continuing to constantly update twitter about how awesome they are, well, until now....I would think with a suicide they could give it a rest.

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2012 10:27:00 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Dec 7, 2012 10:20:09 GMT -5 raangoli said:

That is so sad.

ETA: The radio station is apologizing for the "inconvenience" caused by the call? I assume that this was prior to this news of the receptionist, but it seems like they are missing the point. It was a little more than that...

Yeah, apparently they apologized, but the DJ's are still continuing to constantly update twitter about how awesome they are, well, until now....I would think with a suicide they could give it a rest.

So disgusting! I bet they delete their twitter feed after this suicide announcement. That poor woman to feel so helpless and ashamed to have to take her own life over this -- how humiliating.

[takeonyou]

Assholes. Aside from this, did they not realize that they could cost a lot of people their jobs by pulling this prank?

[mbcdefg]

Another story is saying that it was indeed a nurse who fielded the call: uk.news.yahoo.com/royal-hoax-call-receptionist-commits-suicide-144751515.html

I really don't get the fascination with stalking the royals. I mean, sure, it's interesting when they make public appearances, and heaven knows that I like reading stories about them and seeing photos of what Kate's wearing to events and what tiara the Queen has on, but I've never heard of anyone other than the paparazzi being obsessed with them to the point of interfering in their personal lives. (Nobody other than complete kooks, I mean.)

I mean, I don't think the general public would be up in arms if newspapers suddenly stopped printing photos of Kate going to the supermarket. The reaction to this pregnancy likely would've been the same if the palace had just issued an official announcement when the two of them were ready to reveal.

My point is, I don't think the paparazzi is feeding any kind of demand. They're just creating it and people are reading it because it's there.

That poor nurse

[dr.girlfriend]

I had seen headlines about this, but hadn't really read the story until now. I can't believe this statement:


A radio station spokesman later apologised for the 'inconvenience' caused by the call.

He said yesterday: '2Day FM sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by the enquiry to Kate’s hospital. The radio segment was done with the best intentions and we wish Kate and her family all the best.'

Calling up a hospital and eliciting personal medical information through fraud was done with "the best intentions"? That makes me ragey.

[mbcdefg]

And I realize this is extremely small potatoes, but the news alert for this story just popped up on my phone referring to her as "Princess Kate." Incorrect for a number of reasons.

[Pom]

What a terribly sad tragedy for this person and her family.

[raangoli]

Dec 7, 2012 10:34:00 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

My point is, I don't think the paparazzi is feeding any kind of demand. They're just creating it and people are reading it because it's there.

I agree with this. If the information is there, I will read it. But I don't go out of my way or wake up wondering what the royals have been up to (or for any celebrity for that matter). I am sure there are crazed fanatics out there, but there's no need to feed their obsession.

My heart goes out to this woman's family.

[littlebopeep]

I cannot imagine what the poor woman was feeling.

Thoughts and prayers to that woman's family.

[phunluvin82]

I heard on NPR this morning. So sad. Those radio DJs are assholes.

ETA: I just read through further...the tweets from the one DJ about #royalprank are infuriating.

[mbcdefg]

Does anyone even enjoy those morning radio shows/prank calls all that much? I always find them annoying.

For that matter, does anyone even listen to terrestrial radio anymore?

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2012 11:56:46 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Does anyone even enjoy those morning radio shows/prank calls all that much? I always find them annoying.

For that matter, does anyone even listen to terrestrial radio anymore?

I hate pretty much all local morning radio shows. I just turn on the radio to hear the news and/or listen to music.

I kind of feel like radio DJ's shouldn't even exist. lol

[brooklyn]

So sad.

[GailGoldie]

i know a lot of people who still listen to regular radio - i don't - haven't since Howard Stern moved to Sirius - i LOVE sirius!

as for this situation- it's horrible... but I think blaming the radio prank is a bit much --- average people who are healthy mentally/emotionally don't commit suicide b/c of a bad situation. This nurse was obviously troubled and this may have put her over the edge - but it was far from a cause... it just doesn't happen like that. Suicide isn't something regular people just do b/c they are upset one day.

[pitterwoo]

If someone does something malicious and it pushes a person over the edge, yes they are getting the blame from me. The prank wasn't innocent or well-intentioned in any way. At best it violates Kate's privacy. I'm sure no one thought they might contribute to a suicide, but what if those nurses had lost their jobs or faced charges for revealing patient information? There was no good outcome here and DJs are totally unnecessary anymore.

[mbcdefg]

I don't think the DJs are directly to blame for this at all, but it was just stupid. I think they were irresponsible for airing it once they actually got through to a nurse.

Ethics and "offensive vs. harmless fun" aside, I just don't find prank phone calls to be very funny.

[Deleted]

Dec 7, 2012 12:05:59 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

i know a lot of people who still listen to regular radio - i don't - haven't since Howard Stern moved to Sirius - i LOVE sirius!

as for this situation- it's horrible... but I think blaming the radio prank is a bit much --- average people who are healthy mentally/emotionally don't commit suicide b/c of a bad situation. This nurse was obviously troubled and this may have put her over the edge - but it was far from a cause... it just doesn't happen like that. Suicide isn't something regular people just do b/c they are upset one day.

I've known healthcare workers here in the US that have been fired for giving information out, over the phone, to the wrong people. I guess as someone that has been in a situation where I had to keep patient information under wraps, the first thing that came into my mind is whether or not the hospital employee was going to lose her job.

I think it's highly irresponsible to put someone in that position over a prank. Pranks can be fun, pranks that can potentially end someone's career are not fun.

I would imagine the hospital came down on her like a ton of bricks. I'm not going to blame the DJ's for her suicide, but it was a very poorly managed prank by professionals, no less, and I do think they hold some accountability for that. They issued an apology and then they continued to get all giddy about the publicity and blow it up. STILL not thinking about the fact that someone may have lost their livelihood over their little shenanigans.

[isabel]

Dec 7, 2012 12:20:55 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Dec 7, 2012 12:05:59 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

i know a lot of people who still listen to regular radio - i don't - haven't since Howard Stern moved to Sirius - i LOVE sirius!

as for this situation- it's horrible... but I think blaming the radio prank is a bit much --- average people who are healthy mentally/emotionally don't commit suicide b/c of a bad situation. This nurse was obviously troubled and this may have put her over the edge - but it was far from a cause... it just doesn't happen like that. Suicide isn't something regular people just do b/c they are upset one day.

I've known healthcare workers here in the US that have been fired for giving information out, over the phone, to the wrong people. I guess as someone that has been in a situation where I had to keep patient information under wraps, the first thing that came into my mind is whether or not the hospital employee was going to lose her job.

I think it's highly irresponsible to put someone in that position over a prank. Pranks can be fun, pranks that can potentially end someone's career are not fun.

I would imagine the hospital came down on her like a ton of bricks. I'm not going to blame the DJ's for her suicide, but it was a very poorly managed prank by professionals, no less, and I do think they hold some accountability for that. They issued an apology and then they continued to get all giddy about the publicity and blow it up. STILL not thinking about the fact that someone may have lost their livelihood over their little shenanigans.

I agree with this completely. They didn't force her actions, but there was definitely a causal relationship there. It's hard to believe they are still playing up the prank.

[phunluvin82]

Dec 7, 2012 12:44:33 GMT -5 isabel said:

Dec 7, 2012 12:20:55 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

I've known healthcare workers here in the US that have been fired for giving information out, over the phone, to the wrong people. I guess as someone that has been in a situation where I had to keep patient information under wraps, the first thing that came into my mind is whether or not the hospital employee was going to lose her job.

I think it's highly irresponsible to put someone in that position over a prank. Pranks can be fun, pranks that can potentially end someone's career are not fun.

I would imagine the hospital came down on her like a ton of bricks. I'm not going to blame the DJ's for her suicide, but it was a very poorly managed prank by professionals, no less, and I do think they hold some accountability for that. They issued an apology and then they continued to get all giddy about the publicity and blow it up. STILL not thinking about the fact that someone may have lost their livelihood over their little shenanigans.

I agree with this completely. They didn't force her actions, but there was definitely a causal relationship there. It's hard to believe they are still playing up the prank.

ITA...especially the bolded. Even if this woman had not taken her life over it, what they did was WAY over the line of harmless prank.

[hellonurse]

How awful.

[phunluvin82]

Dec 7, 2012 12:05:59 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

i know a lot of people who still listen to regular radio - i don't - haven't since Howard Stern moved to Sirius - i LOVE sirius!

as for this situation- it's horrible... but I think blaming the radio prank is a bit much --- average people who are healthy mentally/emotionally don't commit suicide b/c of a bad situation. This nurse was obviously troubled and this may have put her over the edge - but it was far from a cause... it just doesn't happen like that. Suicide isn't something regular people just do b/c they are upset one day.

I disagree.

Being humiliated on the global scale. Losing your livelihood. Questioning your ability to ever get another job in your field. Feeling that you've let down yourself, your family, your employer and your royal family...

I think that is a little bit different than 'being upset one day.'

I can imagine many 'average' people who would not be able to handle something like that.

Suicides are actually often situational, and are not always the consequence of an underlying condition. See: Amanda Todd...and all the other teenagers who have killed themselves b/c of being bullied. Do you think that all of them were just emotionally unstable to begin with?

[pitterwoo]

Dec 7, 2012 13:06:26 GMT -5 phunluvin82 said:

Being humiliated on the global scale. Losing your livelihood. Questioning your ability to ever get another job in your field. Feeling that you've let down yourself, your family, your employer and your royal family...

I think that is a little bit different than 'being upset one day.'

I can imagine many 'average' people who would not be able to handle something like that.

Suicides are actually often situational, and are not always the consequence of an underlying condition. See: Amanda Todd...and all the other teenagers who have killed themselves b/c of being bullied. Do you think that all of them were just emotionally unstable to begin with?

I totally agree with this. Also, "Emotional stability" is such a fluid thing. Losing a job, sleep deprivation from a newborn, all kinds of normal life stresses can make normal, average people emotionally unstable.