So while it’s not rational to be disgusted with an entire country because of the actions of a few, I couldn’t resist posting this clip.
Two Australian radio shock jocks decided to hound Kate Middleton while she was sick in the hospital. In the process they tricked a nurse into breaching confidentiality for her patient, and then broadcast the results. This was a huge disgrace for the nurse. Whatever other issues she might have had in her life, it’s almost certain the cruel joke triggered her suicide.
Australian radio is a huge part of their media, and international corporations are monopolizing the industry. Rupert Murdoch’s grandson, Lachlan is a player.
This is happening in the US too, and the race to the bottom is a race for profit. You can blame the listeners, but when spam is all that’s on the menu people get used to it.
All the more reason we need to preserve independent media and diversity here at home.
Kmareka.com 
It is truly a sad thing that happened…just wish the nurse could have gotten support. We all make mistakes, and hers did not particularly harm anyone, so it should have been easily forgiven and forgotten.
You’re right-there was really no harm done.It was a stupid hoax by a couple of people with not enough to keep them busy-so-do you really think this caused her suicide?She must have had other things going on in her life that precipitated her drastic response.Maybe someone should have noticed.I knew a guy or two who committed suicide and it wasn’t a shock when they did it.
Basic legal principle is that you take your victim as you find them. That’s why such pranks are so irresponsible and dangerous, because you can’t know how the person on the other end of the line will react.
In this case it wasn’t just a prank – it was criminal, under Australian laws about covert recording, and the UK’s Data Protection Laws.
As an Australian, I feel ashamed. The Murdoch family should also be collectively disgusted by the actions of their staff member.
It is even more of a disgrace in view of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s death the other day. The whole Murdoch family cast a shodow over my adopted country.
Hey, US media is in the same situation. Corporations like NewsCorp and Clear Channel choking off other voices.
As a nurse, I do understand how much we feel any mistake that could hurt a patient or diminish us in the eyes of our colleagues. I think this is what Jacintha Saldanha felt. When you are in caretaking mode, dealing with families in a maternity ward, you are not in wary and defensive mode. That was the opening that the shock jocks exploited.