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Original poster

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:
PumpkinPositive · 10/12/2012 12:57

Nothing at all like what the two dj's are going through. They will get up from this.

With respect, how do you know that?

natation · 10/12/2012 12:57

Janeatthebarre, you simply cannot compare what the nurse did with what the DJs and their radio station did. I have not read any "angry mom" comments here about the radio station and the DJs, or have I missed them? Contrast what has been said about the radio station and DJs for that they did with comments made here about the nurse who made a "mistake" in answering the phone in lieu of a receptionist at 5.30 in the morning - that the dead nurse didn't give it any thought when she killed herself.

seeker · 10/12/2012 12:58

Massive management failure on both sides.

EverlongLovesHerChristmasRobin · 10/12/2012 13:01

pumpkin call it a hunch if you like Hmm nobody they love has died.

The tears are for themselves imo.

natation · 10/12/2012 13:01

Seeker, the hospital have not been able to say much about what happened on their side, as there will now be an inquest, so you are pre-judging unfairly there, you don't know if there is management failure on the hospital's side.

PumpkinPositive · 10/12/2012 13:02

I have not read any "angry mom" comments here about the radio station and the DJs, or have I missed them

I think you must have missed them, easily done given the length of the various threads (unless they've been removed). I've seen a fair few eye watering posts about the DJs.

bunchamunchycrunchycarrots · 10/12/2012 13:02

Massive management failure on both sides.

That pretty much nails it. Both seem to very much have an eye on what they can be legally held liable for, and are dancing around the 'blame game' going on while a family grieves. This needs to end for the sake of the nurse's family and the 2 DJs who have apologised.

EverlongLovesHerChristmasRobin · 10/12/2012 13:04

The hospital cannot be apportioned the same blame as the radio station. Ffs.

Nancy66 · 10/12/2012 13:05

The Leveson enquiry would have had no bearing on a commercial Australian radio station.

The hospital have really fucked up here. Firstly they had no protocol in place for dealing with calls to VIP patients and then they ignored calls from the radio station about the prank call.

MrsRajeshKoothrappali · 10/12/2012 13:05

I'd hate to sound flip but shouldn't these DJ twats be pleased?

They played a vile prank, upset someone (which surely is what they intended) and got themselves a result.

I don't know how the minds of this type of person works but surely most bullies want their victims to feel powerless and crumble? That's always been my experience of them.

:(

No, no sympathy from me.

They played their little joke. Now they can wipe away those crocodile tears and run of high-fiving each other.

Nasty little shits.

bunchamunchycrunchycarrots · 10/12/2012 13:06

Everlong, blame isn't equal but it is shared IMO.

Nancy66 · 10/12/2012 13:07

MrsRaj - yes, I am sure wanting a nurse to hang herself was their ultimate goal.

EverlongLovesHerChristmasRobin · 10/12/2012 13:07

It shouldn't be shared. No way.

PumpkinPositive · 10/12/2012 13:08

pumpkin call it a hunch if you like nobody they love has died.

Has it been established that anyone the NURSE loved had died?! She still wound up dead so I don't think you can reasonably make the assumption that this pair are not a suicide risk. I think if I were in their shoes, I would have been rendered instantly suicidal by what has happened. :(

The Australian equivalent of Samaritans has issued a statement indicating grave concerns for the pairs state of mind in a set of circumstances such as these. I'm minded to believe a mental health charity knows what they're talking about.

creighton · 10/12/2012 13:08

I agree with MrsRaj, the djs can hand out shit but don't want to take it. they are crying for themselves, that's all.

PumpkinPositive · 10/12/2012 13:11

I'd hate to sound flip but shouldn't these DJ twats be pleased?

They played a vile prank, upset someone (which surely is what they intended) and got themselves a result.

Yes, because anyone who has ever played a prank has clearly had murder on their mind. That's why prank calling is a capital offence in all civilised countries. Hmm

GalaxyDisaster · 10/12/2012 13:13

Nancy - I don't think anyone is suggesting Leveson had any direct bearing on this. The point was that the behaviour of the station was morally wrong, particularly given what Leveson has publicly highlighted about the far reaching consequences for people (actual, real, people .Not the 'non people' the media seem to like to consider the famous/those involved in news stories) of irresponsible behaviour by media organisations.

You are also making big assumptions when you say that the hospital acted irresponsibly in ignoring calls from the station. The station claim to have called the hospital, the hospital say that no one senior or in their media team took a call. We don't know who they called. If they called the ward and just said 'we're 2Day radio" I suspect returning their call would not have been a priority. I agree that there appear to have been failings in the hospital's confidentiality procedures, but we don't know how. They may have had a protocol that wasn't followed - you are the one assuming that they didn't have one at all. They definitely have failings to address- in training if nothing else - but you are making sweeping assumptions about what those failings were.

You seem very keen to defend the media at every turn in this. It's not your area of work is it?

seeker · 10/12/2012 13:13

"Seeker, the hospital have not been able to say much about what happened on their side, as there will now be an inquest, so you are pre-judging unfairly there, you don't know if there is management failure on the hospital's side."

Yes I can. These poor nurses had obviously not been properly briefed or trained. Under circumstances like this, they should have had a script to use on the phone which they knew so well it was automatic. And/or there should have been somebody there to vet calls. The hospital is used to high profile patients. There should have been a protocol.

SantaFrontPaws · 10/12/2012 13:14

I did get the impression from statements and their interview that they do feel deeply sorry - but more for how bad they are feeling now.

natation · 10/12/2012 13:15

Having watched the DJs' interview, though I don't know if the version I saw was the full interview and not cut for effect, I can say the female DJ immediately talked about the nurse and her feeling of grief for the children, whereas the male DJ talked about himself and colleagues and their belief it was just a prank and couldn't predict the future - he didn't come across well at all, more as someone in denial at what they've just done. I would have liked the bosses and lawyers of the DJ sit in the chairs and answer far more in-depth questions, I expect they may be called as witnesses at the inquest.

Viviennemary · 10/12/2012 13:15

I'm afraid I blame the hospital as well. They should have had a system in place for the proper procedure for taking calls and giving out information to patients. And training of all staff who would answer the telephone in those procedures. Especially when they had such high profile patients.

GalaxyDisaster · 10/12/2012 13:15

I agree with Seeker about the hospital. She put it very well - there should have been a script which was so ingrained it was automatic. What we don't know is which step fell down - the existance of a script, the training or both.

Viviennemary · 10/12/2012 13:15

Information on patients.

LondonNinja · 10/12/2012 13:16

It's pretty obvious that they didn't want the call answer-er to harm themselves. BUT did they give a moment's thought to that person until it was too late?

Sometimes, having an ounce of forethought or wondering for a second if it is a decent thing to inflict on someone - knowing the world's media are camped there to see the mess unfold - would be useful, no?

EverlongLovesHerChristmasRobin · 10/12/2012 13:17

pumpkin you asked me why I think the dj's will get up from this as opposed to Jacintha's children, who won't.

I answered because unlike Jacintha's children nobody in the dj's lives have just committed suicide.

So I don't understand your last post to me.