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VIDEO: Australian DJs Behind Royal Hoax Call Apologize

Posted By: Suzette Francis · 12/10/2012 5:09:00 AM

The Australian radio hosts behind a hoax phone call to the British hospital where the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was staying said through tears that they were shattered upon learning that the nurse who was duped by their prank had died.
    
2DayFM radio DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian have faced worldwide outrage over the hoax. They spoke publicly about the prank for the first time Monday in a televised interview with Australia's "A Current Affair.''
    
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha answered the phone last week when the pair called, impersonating Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

They received and broadcast confidential information about the duchess's medical condition.
    
Saldanha died three days later. The cause is not yet known, but critics of the DJs assume stress from the prank played a role.
    
(The Associated Press)

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  1. barb posted on 12/10/2012 09:35 AM
    Truly heartbreaking. People should stop pointing fingers and blaming the DJs, the Royal Family, the hospital etc.. The fact is that this poor nurse took her own life from world wide humiliation, she just couldn't stand it. The DJs certainly had no malicious intent, it was a stupid prank gone awry. These 2 young people (the DJs) will have this following them the rest of their lives and probably a day won't go by where they don't think about it. It is a really, really sad situation.
  2. maria posted on 12/10/2012 12:02 PM
    How tragic about the suicide of the nurse. I don't blame the DJs. though. I think the nurse may have had some issues to begin with and the world media attention must have aggravated an existing mental heath situation. Suicide is a pretty desperate response to stress. So sad for her family, sad for the Duke and Duchess, as this story will forever be associated with their baby.
  3. Franz V posted on 12/10/2012 12:28 PM
    There is such a thing as accountability. People who pull pranks like this need to realize that there is always a consequence, including the unforeseen. They were not calling a friend or associate that they know can take a joke. They called an unknown person whom they knew nothing about. How would you possibly know what that person was going through, that day, that week or even longer.
    They had to realize even on a less serious note that they were going to tell lies to a person, to trick them into giving out sensitive personal information, in violation of the hospital's privacy code. That in itself could have lead to discipline or even dismissal for someone who was really a victim.
    The DJ's and the radio station do own the responsibility for this event and should be held morally and financially liable.
    1. barb posted on 12/10/2012 01:24 PM
      @Franz V You're absolutely right. There does need to be some accountability, due to the serious unforeseen outcome.
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