Kate Middleton's Hospital Nurse Found Dead

She wasn't even the nurse who gave out the information - she merely passed the call on to the nurse who did. Very sad.

I understand the queen herself has called the family to offer her condolences.

Or maybe it was SOME queen pretending to be some DJ pretending to be THE queen.

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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.

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Updated On: 12/7/12 at 12:31 PM

I 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.

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And 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.

I 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.

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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...

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Updated On: 12/7/12 at 01:52 PM

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.

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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

"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.

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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?

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