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AIBU?

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To feel sorry for the Australian DJs?

921 replies

andapartridgeinaRowantree · 08/12/2012 00:38

Obviously more sorry for the nurse's family. I wonder how long she was having suicidal thoughts for? I can't think this could have been the only cause,

But these pranks have been going on for such a long time and those DJs could not have predicted such a result and are going to have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

It's such a tragedy and I feel very sad for all concerned.

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 08/12/2012 22:49

I feel sorry for the nurse, the nurse's family, the hospital staff and a little bit for Kate. I don't think the DJs deserve any pity for their actions. They knew that playing the recording of the phonecall would wreck someone's career. It is reasonable to think the DJs should lose their careers.

The nurses fell for the hoax and it could be argued that one of them paid for her simple error of judgement with her life.

banana87 · 08/12/2012 22:50

I'm in 2 minds really.

I'm bloody pissed off with the DJ's. However, they had no idea that someone would kill themselves over it.

PumpkinPositive · 08/12/2012 22:52

PumpkinPositive, if someone were to tie another person knowingly drunk to a lamppost and leave them there, late to die when a car crashes in to them, I think in fact they would be arrested and might be convicted of causing death by negligence.

I didn't say anything about leaving them there (at least for any length of time). But irrespective of that - and I'm no lawyer - I would be very surprised if the tie-r is charged with anything relating to the actual death in the case of a car which mounts the pavement and hits someone.

HipHopOpotomus · 08/12/2012 23:28

The initial report I read in Aussie news got the facts wrong re them being the same DJ's who got girl to confess being raped.

But it was the same broadcaster and all the parties involved must have known about it - clearly they didn't learn from that re playing with people.

It's quite sick to manipulate and humiliate innocent and unsuspecting people, and broadcast that humiliation, in the name of humour and let's face it ratings and ultimately money.

I think they must feel dreadful about it. I feel dreadful about it. But I am a long way from feeling sorry for them.

mercibucket · 08/12/2012 23:33

Presumably the DJs were given the number by someone? And the tape was checked before being aired. We can be angry with the DJs but they were just the weapon being held by others, higher up at the station.

Some have compared this to 'you've been framed'. No - with those kind of tv programmes, the victim has to consent to the footage being shown. Presumably not everyone does consent

This is more akin to viral youtube bullying but on an international scale, followed up by internet traffic calling for her to be sacked. I also note that all the UK media only played her voice, not the voice of the other nurse.

I am surprised people do not think it was a possible consequence. We do not have all that many examples to compare to. In most situations, it involves someone already in the public eye, say a politician or an actor, who is tricked on film or audio. They, I presume, do not have to give consent. It is a given that they have agreed to a level of media interest in their lives. We do have other examples, such as Dr Kelly, of 'normal' people thrust into the public eye who couldn't cope. On a normal scale, I am sure we can all think of articles we have read of people killing themselves after bullying by facebook, distribution of film of themselves to all in their school or workplace etc. It is certainly something I seem to read once a year or so, very sadly. So I would say it is a predictable but rare response to public humiliation.

Do I feel sorry for the DJs? Yes. I also feel sorry for people who kill others through careless driving. It doesn't mean it was not their fault, but there is no need to demonise them either. I feel incredibly sad for the family of this nurse and so sorry that this has happened and a life ended so unnecessarily.

seeker · 08/12/2012 23:43

Why isn't anyone questioning the hospital's protocols? They are bused to having ViPs as patients- they must have an agreed procedure for taking phone calls?

VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry · 08/12/2012 23:47

im reserving my sympathy for those who deserve it and that is not the DJs or the station.

The djs were bragging about it on facebook following the broadcast. What kind of people are they?

they will bounce back in a few months no doubt as if nothing has happened. the family of the nurse who died wont.

AgentZigzag · 08/12/2012 23:49

With such high profile royals seeker, I was wondering where the protection team factored into it?

Even in hospital they would have to have some kind of control over who has contact with them.

You'd have thought they could have predicted the media would do all sorts to try and ring through for information.

EIizaDay · 09/12/2012 01:15

AgentZig - there are one or two of in this thread however I think we've been lost in the crowds baying for blood.

AgentZigzag · 09/12/2012 01:22

Are you in the protection racket too Eliza?

Wink
GothAnneGeddes · 09/12/2012 01:52

Seeker - 1) Talking about hospital protocols is a bit like talking about clothing in rape cases, it smacks of victim blaming. Media organisations should not be prank calling hospitals, it is hideously unethical, aside from breaching confidentiality it is wasting hospital time and resources.

2)They called at 5.30am UK time. The standard receptionist was not on duty, Jacintha, who was probably extremely tired at the end of a night shift and probably just happened to be passing and was thinking of other things entirely picked up the phone. Whatever training/policy you might have can easily fly out of your head when faced with such an odd situation when you are tired. Nurse number 2 then takes the call, probably thinks they've already been vetted and speaks to the DJ's.

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:19

I agree with GothAnneGeddes, if you are really tired after a night's work and quickly answer a phone because you happen to be passing, and no one is there, you are not really thinking of protocols. I bet everyone can think of a time when they have not answered a phone call in the sensible way they would if they were fresh and expecting to answer phone calls.

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:21

I would have thought that the first rule for a 'joke' like that was to explain it to the victim and ask them for permission to share it with the world- not just expose them to ridicule with no thought for them.

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:21

And if it was me I wouldn't give permission!

seeker · 09/12/2012 07:23

It's not victim blaming.

This is a hospital which regularly treats very high profile people. It is extraordinary that there weren't systems in place to stop this sort of thing happening. It is extraordinary that both these poor women obviously haven't had proper training in what to do when you have high profile patients.

EIizaDay · 09/12/2012 07:33

I agree completely with seeker. I have worked in sensitive situations involving VIPs (in my past life I must add) and systems are always so stringent and had to be fail-proof that I am quite gobsmacked at what was allowed to happen in the hospital.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 09/12/2012 07:39

Haven't read the 12 pages but I agree with Seeker - neither Kate Middleton - or anyone, in any hospital, for that matter - or these nurses should have been laid open to this thing happening.
Absolutely extraordinary that a call like that could get through.

How much do we pay for the royals' security again?

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:39

The answer obviously is to be 'a jobsworth' and not answer the phone when it is not your job at the time!

seeker · 09/12/2012 07:42

No. The answer is for employers to ensure that you are properly trained to do your job.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 09/12/2012 07:47

I do wonder also how those nurses were treated by their employers.
Hauled over the coals by red-faced managers looking to pass on the blame for their own lack of adequate systems?

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:47

I would suggest then that they were properly staffed and had enough nurses at night to have time to think. (also pay them more so that they were not living in Bristol and working in London). They may have high profile people staying but they seem just as understaffed and over stretched as any other hospital.

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:49

Exactly Shotgun- too few nurses, too many managers and then when the managers fail to to their job of setting up systems- blame the nurses!

Snazzyfeelingfestive · 09/12/2012 07:49

Seeker, totally agree. All hospital staff should have been briefed that calls are only dealt with by a named senior person in comms. The hospital itself let its staff down badly here.

exoticfruits · 09/12/2012 07:50

I would think that most people had handled at least one phone call extremely badly in their life but luckily no one knows!

seeker · 09/12/2012 07:55

One phone call handled badly is unfortunate and could happen anywhere. Two in quick succession is management failure.

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