Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #1
Posted: 12/7/12 at 11:28am
This is such a bizarre story. I assume more updates as the day goes on.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/kate-middleton-nurse-found-dead-prank-callers_n_2257231.html
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #2
Posted: 12/7/12 at 11:31amShe wasn't even the nurse who gave out the information - she merely passed the call on to the nurse who did. Very sad.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #2
Posted: 12/7/12 at 11:38am
Tragic.
I've never been a fan of 'pranks'. When you put someone in a position to look like a fool and be made fun of you are, in a way, bullying. I don't get the humor in it.
I hope the radio station which initiated this pointless prank issues an apology for the harm it has caused and takes some accountability for this. Shame on them.
Truly a tragic loss for the nurse's family.
I am sure this news is distressing to the Countess, which is the last thing she needs during this tender time in her pregnancy.
Everything about this is so sad.
Joined: 12/31/69
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #3
Posted: 12/7/12 at 11:52amI understand the queen herself has called the family to offer her condolences.
Joined: 12/31/69
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #4
Posted: 12/7/12 at 11:52amOh no. Sorry. It was some DJ pretending to be the queen.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #5
Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:07pm
Or maybe it was SOME queen pretending to be some DJ pretending to be THE queen.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #6
Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:13pm
Or maybe, it was DJ Queen Majesty.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #7
Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:31pm
1. An update posted at 12;18 states the dj's have been fired.
2. There need to be other issues for that nurse to have committed suicide. One mistake, and one that no caused no HARM to any living person (except minor embarrassment), is not going to cause a stable person to take their own life.
Sorry, I really did mean to add: what a shame for the nurse's family, colleagues and all the Royal Family -- what a black cloud to hang over them at what should be a joyous time.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #8
Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:49pmThis was a harmless prank, I don't have a problem with silly things like this, but this woman obviously had some issues before this. Is there any indication that the "prank" was the reason she took her life? Perhaps it is just a coincidence.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #9
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:09pmI don't know. It wasn't all that harmless. The call put her career in jeopardy or at least that of the nurse she passed the call along to. That nurse broke the privacy agreement in a very public way about the royal family. For an employee at that prestigious hospital, where they handle the royals, to make such a huge blunder, is not something they would overlook. She was responsible for believing that somehow HRH would put in a call herself to a hospital. It's not a small thing in her life.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #10
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:10pm
It wasn't harmless, though.
Nurses who are devoted to their work take confidentiality and trust very seriously. It is a central principal of their work.
I obviously can't comment on this individual's circumstances, but, it's not inconceivable to me that the breach of this important aspect of her life's calling would cause a level of distress many of us can't understand.
Suicide is a tragedy. This whole thing is just a senseless loss.
(Edited to add that JG2 and I were posting at the same time, and share the same feelings about this.)
Joined: 12/31/69
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #11
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:11pmAnd it has been discussed EVERYWHERE. This is not a small indiscretion that you can grin your way through. I imagine it felt very all-consuming to her.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #12
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:16pm
I don't think anyone is saying it isn't a tragedy. We are just looking at the big picture: it's highly unlikely (not impossible) that this incident ALONE caused the suicide.
Yes, I'm sure both nurses were reprimanded -- but don't you think we'd here had one or both had been fired -- especially in light of this? (Not to say that couldn't still come out.)
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #13
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:18pmI don't mean to make light of her suicide at all. I am sorry if it came off that way, and I understand the importance of HIPPA or whatever the equivalent is in England. But come on, the DJs were not guilty of anything more than poor judgement and can't really be held accountable. It was the employees of the hospital that dropped the ball. I mean unless they are use to EQ11 calling unannounced... Just my opinion. I am curious to see how this plays out.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #14
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:45pmRight, but maybe it was her embarrassment over the huge mistake that led her to it. She may not have been fired, but everyone in the country and eventually the world was going to hear about it. She fell for the stupid prank. I can see how it could mess up everything for you. Can you imagine how stupid you would feel for falling for it?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #15
Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:52pm
Honestly, the DJs are no more responsible for her death than the hospital would be for whatever reprimand she was given. I'm sure they never thought they'd get through to anyone, and its not their fault that they were passed along, eventually getting to a nurse that gave out basic information.
Supposedly, THIS nurse was sent this call being told (from the hospital operator?) that the queen was indeed on the line. THIS nurse didn't even release info, so I'm not sure what kind of trouble she could even be in.
It is certainly sad, but I don't think you can pin the blame on anyone. When word of the prank reached my ears, I remember thinking that it wasn't funny OR even remotely interesting. With the info I know, there is certainly NO way they should be held responsible. I'm not even sure I agree with them being fired. (I'd be suprised to hear they had never done things like this previously.)
NOTE: Now the article has removed the sentence stating they were fired, and now it just says they won't be on air until further notice.
Hm...
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #16
Posted: 12/7/12 at 2:23pmThe prank wasn't meant to be harmful but it turned out that way. Bottom line-if you're going to prank someone, you never know who or what you're dealing with so maybe you shouldn't be a prankster!
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #17
Posted: 12/7/12 at 2:24pm
It was an honest mistake on her part, too. I mean the Dutchess is there, there is media everwhere, out of the blue someone calls that sounds exactly like the queen...really, everyone of us (or anyone at the hospital) could have and probably WOULD have made the same mistake. So to say she was so ashamed that she killed herself is a leap...unless of course she had major mental health issues before this incident.
And I agree, how was this prank even remotely funny?
And don't be surprised if in 50 years or so England has its first QUEEN JACINTHA, as Kate will probably insist naming the baby after the nurse.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #18
Posted: 12/7/12 at 2:25pmHow an earth was it harmless? They knew if they got through that the nurses could get in to a lot of trouble and face humiliation on a world wide scale. And whilst she may have had underlining issues, it's also possible that she just read all the horrendous press about her the past 2 days (many calling her out, some saying treason and some been very insultive) and just could not handle it. If they honestly didn't think their dumb prank could lead to trouble for the nurses then they should be sacked for sheer stupidity. These nurses here in the UK are underpaid and overworked and the last they should be dealing with are idiots like this.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #19
Posted: 12/7/12 at 2:37pm
This matter is quite simple. If the telephone call had not been made, there is every likelihood (even if she had underlying issues) that the nurse would still be alive today.
With everything that has gone on in the UK over the last 18 months regarding media invasions of privacy, it was not just stupid of the radio station to do this, it was editorially and professionally irresponsible. It is not the DJ's who should be sacked but those in charge of the radio station.
And I echo wholeheartedly the emotionally intelligent responses of JG2 and NYadgal.
Updated On: 12/11/12 at 02:37 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/08
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #20
Posted: 12/7/12 at 2:51pm
Scripps is right. No matter what else might have been going on, the prank led to the nurse's death.
I wouldn't blame Kate for spending the rest of her pregnancy in some peaceful, far away, undisclosed location.
Updated On: 12/7/12 at 02:51 PM
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #21
Posted: 12/7/12 at 3:00pm
"They knew if they got through that the nurses could get in to a lot of trouble and face humiliation on a world wide scale."
I think that's a pretty big leap to say they knew that.
This is not to say I don't agree NYadgal, I am not a fan of pranks either. I also think actions have unintended consequences which in turn have unintended consequences. They did the prank, there was a possible unintended consequence and because of that, they lost their jobs.
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #22
Posted: 12/7/12 at 3:01pm
I suppose any prank is harmless until harm comes from it.
But the very least these people could have anticipated is some combination of: disturbing an ill, expectant mother; embarrassing the hospital; and jeopardizing the jobs of any hospital employees who were fooled by them.
I would think that those three possibilities were in their minds as they dialed the number, and any one of them should have been enough to make them put the phone down.
I recall a similar response when Tyler Clementi jumped from the GWB after a prank was played on him. "That couldn't have been the cause." Suicide is certainly a complicated issue; but I don't see how anyone can view these events as unrelated.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #23
Posted: 12/7/12 at 3:06pm
I am sure that all of you who are pointing fingers at the DJs have delighted in shows like Crank Yankers, America's Funniest Home Videos and even Candid Camera. How is what these guys did any worse than anything done on these shows?
What about surprise birthday parties? Should the host and guests be held accountable if the birthday boy drops dead of a heart attack?
This is a tragic turn of events for this woman and her family, but what do you want to do, ban practical jokes?
Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead #24
Posted: 12/7/12 at 3:07pm
Yeah, kinda.
I didn't like Crank Yankers or Candid Camera. I like when cats jump on babies heads and guys get hit in the balls by pinata sticks. But I've never liked the practical joke parts of AFV.
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