Reply to: Kate hoax nurse found dead

[Bunk]

Australian hoax DJs: where do you draw the line with on-air pranks? | Media | The Guardian

[pjclarke]

The call was recorded and then cleared for release by some kind of editorial panel; too juicy not to share I guess. Seems to me this panel are rather more culpable than the presenters, if anyone is.

The radio station is covered by a code of practice that says that such material should only be broadcast after the consent of the 'spoofee' has been gained. The station claimed to have tried to get consent, were unable to, but went ahead regardless. Without that consent the call should not have been broadcast; seems to me that avoiding incidents like this involving vulnerable people is one very good reason why that the code of practice exists.



This particular jape was purile but the prank call, interview or letter has been used to satirical and comic effect - I'm thinking of Chris Morris/Brass Eye, Mark Thomas, The Henry Root letters, even some of Darren Brown's stuff. But no doubt these people do get the appropriate permissions and releases when dealing with 'real' people, who have not chosen to be in the public gaze.

[Bunk]

But you know what you're joining i.e. you are consenting, again it's not difficult!

Some people think they're joining a forum about Contracting. The misconception doesn't usually last long to be fair.

[DodgyAgent]

Of course they are saying that now otherwise they would be blamed for her suicide, as it is they can stand back and plead innocence whilst the public bay for the blood of these DJs.

It being an honest mistake is not grounds for not firing someone.

The hospital was a laughing stock and had it's reputation severely tarnished, they would have fired her as it was her fault and if nothing else to 'show how seriously they take this kind of thing' etc.

It was a mistake and the DJs cannot be blamed for her death but they (and others ) should learn from it.

[MyUserName]

Very good point. However people should know the score before they come on here. Not so if you are working in a hospital -

To be fair we are normally quite civil and polite on here, you f*cktard.

[DodgyAgent]

If most of the people on this forum behaved with that much sensitivity towards others there would be very little activity in General.

Very good point. However people should know the score before they come on here. Not so if you are working in a hospital -

[MyUserName]

Why would they fire her? It was an honest mistake. I thought the hospital had said that she wasn't in any trouble as a result of the call?

Of course they are saying that now otherwise they would be blamed for her suicide, as it is they can stand back and plead innocence whilst the public bay for the blood of these DJs.

It being an honest mistake is not grounds for not firing someone.

The hospital was a laughing stock and had it's reputation severely tarnished, they would have fired her as it was her fault and if nothing else to 'show how seriously they take this kind of thing' etc.

[SupremeSpod]

But you know what you're joining i.e. you are consenting, again it's not difficult!

Yeah, the warning is on the packet, don't feed them after midnight and don't get 'em wet!

[Gibbon]

If most of the people on this forum behaved with that much sensitivity towards others there would be very little activity in General.

But you know what you're joining i.e. you are consenting, again it's not difficult!

[Bunk]

YES YES YES, that's why you shouldn't play jokes like that because you don't know who is on the other end. It's not rocket science!

If most of the people on this forum behaved with that much sensitivity towards others there would be very little activity in General.

[SupremeSpod]

Obviously you missed the salient point. Whatever made this woman kill herself, it was probably mostly due to her terrible life up to that point, so quite why anybody is looking to blame these two DJs for doing something a bit juvenile is beyond me. Why are we not all blaming the NHS for taking better care of nurses, for example?

Speculation of course, but I just don't buy that a normal happy person is so upset by something like this that they kill themselves.

Have you ever heard the expression "Death before dishonour"?

[Bunk]

Her employers knew who she was and I would be amazed if they did not fire her, anyone with any connection to the hospital or to her would have found out easily enough.

That is without anyone making proper effort etc. This would hardly have stayed anonymous.

Although she might well have been upset by the backlash even if the people concerned probably did not know her exact name.

Why would they fire her? It was an honest mistake. I thought the hospital had said that she wasn't in any trouble as a result of the call?

[LatteLiberal]

To her being humiliated in this way was probably more serious than a child dying of cancer.

If it was then she had serious mental issues.

[Gibbon]

Obviously you missed the salient point. Whatever made this woman kill herself, it was probably mostly due to her terrible life up to that point, so quite why anybody is looking to blame these two DJs for doing something a bit juvenile is beyond me. Why are we not all blaming the NHS for taking better care of nurses, for example?

Speculation of course, but I just don't buy that a normal happy person is so upset by something like this that they kill themselves.

YES YES YES, that's why you shouldn't play jokes like that because you don't know who is on the other end. It's not rocket science!

[MyUserName]

Did they or anybody publicise the name of the nurse that made the mistake? Not that I remember.

No happy well-adjusted person kills themselves for a reason as stupid as this.

Her employers knew who she was and I would be amazed if they did not fire her, anyone with any connection to the hospital or to her would have found out easily enough.

That is without anyone making proper effort etc. This would hardly have stayed anonymous.

Although she might well have been upset by the backlash even if the people concerned probably did not know her exact name.