Reasonably Forseen..........

[jd_1984]

http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/uk-hoax-call-oz-djs-taken-off-air-after-nurse-s-death_815503.html

Justification my radio network CEO is that the suicide of the nurse who took the prank call was not reasonably forseen, i.e tragic as it is should the DJ's (who will be understandibly shocked) be held accountable at all?

Leagally probably not, but morally....??

[boxtops]

I think if you are talking liability, risk, then "reasonably foreseen" is an expression we'd use as trying to mitigate a risk (e.g. for health & safety). I don't think anyone could have foreseen that this nurse would have taken her life - but anyone with an ounce of sense might have foreseen that anyone giving out patient information over the phone should be disciplined, if not suspended when under investigation. Some joke, eh?

[emmie]

until the full inquest if they have one is concluded and more is known then no one can be sure of the reasons. Having said that i deplore this so called prank, there is talk of the British police being involved on questioning the two individuals, not sure what that would achieve. As to the person who said that happy people don't commit suicide is talking patent nonsense.

[emmie]

there was no indication from the hospital in the news that she had been suspended, or given a stern warning. She put the call through and another nurse spoke with the so called pranksters.

[boxtops]

I agree em, the hospital have said all along that she wasn't in any way reprimanded.

[joko]

i think the only think they are guilty of is the fact that they could have got the nurses into a lot of trouble ... but then as they clearly state they did not expect to get put through ... it was not an attempt to genuinely gain info and get through security, it was a daft joke.

em, people generaly dont just kill themselves because they feel daft for being 'fooled' ... it usually takes a lot more than that for people to go to those extremes.

[sp1814]

I genuinely, genuinely, genuinely believe that no-one could've predictc the outcome of this sorry affair.

We have revelled in practical jokes for decades - from 'Candid Camera' to 'Game For A Laugh' to '3 Non Blondes' and 'Trigger Happy TV'. This could've happened at any point in the past 40-50 years. I feel sorry for the family of the nurse, but I honestly believe that her suicide is a massive over-reaction to what we know.

This I admit is conjecture - but putting it into context, it just seems that taking your own life for something that is embarrassing, rather than publicly humiliating seems too much. If she had not committed suicide, none of us would have known her name.

Incidentally - I also feel that the media should shoulder some of the blame here.

[wildwood]

I too, though it was somewhat funny at the time. This sort of thing has been done before trying to get through to other important people and is a rather well worn prank.

It is a tragic outcome and I do feel for the radio station concerned as well as the 'victim's' family of course.

[DTCwordfan]

It is a reflection of what the media does now a-days be it newspapers, radio, tv or whatever, particularly with celebs. This isn't the first time by any means, and I bet it's not the last. It's a sick preoccupation and fascination with celebrity that ended with the death of Diana, for example.

Apart from the nurse's family and colleagues, my sympathy is with the Cambridges as (i) it risks marring the birth of their child and (ii) it must bring back memories of the harassment PW's mother received at the hands of the Press.

The Radio Station will hopefully go out of business as their sponsors are withdrawing their advertising. Good.

[plowter]

While the radio station have some responsibility, surely the poor nurse would have been more distressed by the incessant reporting by our great British media?

She would probably have been subject to a disciplinary meeting.
She could hardly have been reassured by the repeated reporting by TV news and newpapers.
I would imagine our great British press would have made active enquiries about her.
Whatever her personal circumstances, it can't have been an easy few days for her.

[237SJ]

I agree with DT. Even if the nurse hadn`t died, since when has it been acceptable to phone up a hospital with the intention of effectively harassing and taking the p1ss out of a patient? Definitely morally wrong.

[emmie]

was listening to the news earlier and the two have been on air blubbing about how sorry they both are, and how much sympathy they have for the nurse and her family at this difficult time, heaven almighty, wouldn't it be better for all concerned they stay silent.

[ichkeria]

The nurse who committed suicide wasn't even the one who gave out info.
She simply transferred the call. The person who DID divulge the information hasn't as far as we know committed suicide.

I don't think the intention was to "harass" anyone. For a start it was the worst impersonation of Lizzie II I've ever heard and I'd imagine they were anticipating an amusing exchange before being told politely to go away.

The real issue, which has been overlooked perhaps in the aftermath of the death, is should the radio station have agreed to broadcast a recording which gave out confidential patient details, however obtained.