Royal Prank Call Nurse 'Commits Suicide'

[twinart]

I've read about this a few days ago. I think prank calls could be "harmful" sometimes.

[scottish]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20673899

The Australian radio station whose DJs made a hoax call to a nurse who was later found dead is to give at least £320,000 to a fund for her family.

Sydney broadcaster 2Day FM said it would donate the money from its advertising profits.

Jacintha Saldanha transferred the call to a colleague who gave information about the Duchess of Cambridge, who was a patient at the London hospital.

Mrs Saldana's post mortem is to take place later.

She answered the Australian presenters' call in the early hours of the morning on 4 December and, believing they were members of the Royal Family, put them through to another nurse, who gave an update on the duchess's condition in detail.

The duchess was being treated in the King Edward VII's Hospital for hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness.

Mrs Saldanha, 46, was pronounced dead on Friday morning at staff accommodation close to the hospital. An inquest into her apparent suicide is due to be opened in the next few days.

'Loving mother'
The company which owns the station, Southern Cross Austereo, said all profits from advertising on 2Day FM for the rest of the year would be donated to an appropriate memorial fund that would directly benefit the family, with at least 500,000 Australian dollars (£320,000) being donated.

Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive, said: "We are very sorry for what has happened. It is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with the family.

"We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time."

It also cancelled its Christmas party, saying it would be "inappropriate" to go ahead.

Mrs Saldanha's family made a private visit to King Edward VII's Hospital in London, where she worked, on Monday.

MP Keith Vaz, who met Mrs Saldanha's family in Parliament on Monday night, said they had been left "devastated" by the loss of "a loving mother and a loving wife".

Flanked by Mrs Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza and her two teenage children, Mr Vaz said: "They just want me to say that they are extremely grateful to the public here in the United Kingdom and throughout the world who have sent them messages of condolences and support following the death of Jacintha.

"This is a close family. They are devastated by what has happened. They miss her every moment of every day, but they are really grateful to the support of the British public and to the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

'Gutted and heartbroken'
Mr Vaz had earlier criticised the hospital for not giving the family more support.

He said: "The hospital has sent them a letter, which I have seen, but I'm surprised that nobody has made the journey to Bristol to sit with them and offer them the counselling that I think they need."

In response, the hospital said its chief executive, John Lofthouse, had spoken to Mr Barboza on Friday by phone and offered to meet him whenever he wanted.

The hospital has launched a memorial fund to support the nurse's family and a private memorial service will be held later this week.

In the hoax call, the presenters, Michael Christian and Mel Greig, had pretended to be Prince Charles and the Queen asking about the duchess in hospital.

They said in a tearful interview with Australian television broadcast on Monday that they were "gutted and heartbroken" Mrs Saldanha's death.

Christian said: "It was something that was just fun and light-hearted and a tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected.

"We are shattered, heartbroken and our deepest sympathy goes to the family, friends and all those people affected. Mel and myself are incredibly sorry for the situation and what's happened."

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge has cancelled an appearance at the premiere of the Hobbit on Wednesday. Her office says she will continue to "rest privately" at home. Prince William is due to attend.

She was being treated in the hospital for hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness.

[HotelUser]

I've read about this a few days ago. I think prank calls could be "harmful" sometimes.

I think you should face criminal charges for prank calling a hospital, fire-station, police-station or any other service where intentionally causing mistakes can potentially cause death.

[Lee]

I think you should face criminal charges for prank calling a hospital, fire-station, police-station or any other service where intentionally causing mistakes can potentially cause death.

How could prank calling a hospital cause death?

[HotelUser]

How could prank calling a hospital cause death?

Generally speaking I don't think wasting a doctor, nurse or ambulance driver's time is a very good idea, when they could otherwise be focusing their attention on saving the lives of legitimate patients

[scottish]

How could prank calling a hospital cause death?

Thread: Royal Prank Call Nurse 'Commits Suicide'

[:Markster:]

Well that's a bit weak that the DJs should get full blame, I mean don't get me wrong, they were off the charts in the wrong for pulling such a prank call, but then again if someone just offs themselves because they've turned into a victim of a prank call then that doesn't make sense. The nurse must have had something else going on in her life and the prank call was just one of many factors that made her do what she did.

[GommeInc]

Well that's a bit weak that the DJs should get full blame, I mean don't get me wrong, they were off the charts in the wrong for pulling such a prank call, but then again if someone just offs themselves because they've turned into a victim of a prank call then that doesn't make sense. The nurse must have had something else going on in her life and the prank call was just one of many factors that made her do what she did.

Hence the eggshell skull rule of tort. If she was vulnerable or weak, such as having problems at home or work, or unknown stress, the one who caused the tort (the wrong: the prank call) becomes increasingly liable. Obviously they are not entirely to blame as it seems it is standard practice for this radio station to have the DJs pre-record a clip for a show and have it reviewed by their superiors, and it seems these superiors are neglectful too for allowing such a ridiculous clip (and show) to ever be broadcast. Wasting hospital resources is incredibly stupid, it's amazing alarm bells were not ringing in the heads of these tiny minded DJs and station managers.

[scottish]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...tal-staff.html

Kate Middleton hoax call nurse 'left suicide note criticizing senior hospital staff over her treatment in days leading up to her death'
Devastated Jacintha Saldanha left three suicide notes following prank call
She used one note to 'criticise hospital over her treatment', sources say
Mother-of-two also described her struggle to come to terms with the hoax
Student nurses in India held a candlelit vigil to pray for 'excellent nurse', 46
Grieving husband calls for an inquiry into exactly what happened

The nurse found dead following a hoax call to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge criticised senior colleagues over her treatment in one of three suicide notes, it has emerged.
An inquest heard that Jacintha Saldanha, 46, left three emotional suicide notes following the prank call by Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian.
But it has emerged today that in one of the notes she has criticised colleagues at the King Edward VII hospital over her treatment following the controversial call.







It is believed the nurse's suicide note has left her grieving family furious, with husband Ben Barboza understood to want an inquiry into the hospital.
He is also believed to want an independent investigation into what happened in the days leading up to the death of his wife, for whom student nurses in Bangalore, India, held a candlelit vigil overnight.

The nurses, who were seen walking the streets holding candles and reciting prayers in tribute to the mother of two, demanded an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her death.
'It is very unfortunate for a nurse, who was in a peak of her career had to die in a very bad way from the royal prank played by some foolish people,' said one attendee named as Ravi.
'This nurse was traumatised so much that she could not face anybody and committed a suicide. We pray for her soul to rest in peace and her family to come out of the incident.'
A nurse named as Vijaylaxmi said at the march organised by a local politician: 'We are here to pray for nurse Jacintha's family, so my kind request is that proper investigation has to be done and it is a major issue, we cannot leave this issue.'
Speaking to the Daily Mirror about Mrs Saldanha's suicide notes, a source close to the family said: 'One of the letters, which is the longest, deals with the hospital and is critical in its tone.
'Needless to say, Ben wants a full inquiry into what happened and he wants to make sure the truth comes out.
'Within the letter, Jacintha calls into question some of the treatment she received at the hospital.'
In another note, the mother-of two describes how she struggled to come to terms with the prank call by the two Australian DJs. The third and final letter is practical and deals with her funeral plans.
The body of the mother-of-two was discovered in her room in staff quarters last Friday.
Two of the notes were found nearby and a third was among her possessions.


etc