# Kate Middleton is pregnant **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859 "2012-12-03T16:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/261 "2012-12-09T01:25:52Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > It’s not a joke. > > Of course, in this post-ironic detached "oh just get the fuck over yourself people everything is fair game " environment, lots of people think it’s just hilarious. > > So hilarious in fact that what people should do is wait until the female d.j. has kids, sends them to school and then " harmlessly prank call her " at work. The sound of a child, screaming and frightened, whose screams are suddenly cut off. Mom thinks her girl has been kidnapped and murdered- on the phone. > > Right? Funny shit man ! We love it !! Harmless !! > > Dickheads. > > What’s sad is that the radio station’s attorney vetted the whole thing and then they aired it. Because some sadistic infantile lawyer said it was just fine, they aired it. And now we get to witness the results. > > Then, there’s the ( by comparison benign ) fact that fraud was committed to obtain private medical records. No clue what the law is in the U.K. regarding this, is there a HIPAA- like set of laws? I don’t see it as similar to the prank you’re thinking up at all, because that would be frankly psychotic. The only way they could have got someone in trouble is if someone gave info out that they shouldn’t have. It’s more a failure of security at the hospital than anything else, and they exposed a security breach. The hospital claim the nurse hadn’t even been disciplined. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/262 "2012-12-09T02:07:48Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > HIPAA punishes people who inappropriately release medical information HIPAA, however, is an American law and would not apply in the UK. UK Dopers, what _are_ the UK rules/regs/laws regarding medical records and privacy? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/263 "2012-12-09T02:11:09Z")
I wouldn’t blame the nurse who finally took the call for violating privacy. If I’d been told by another staff member that it was the queen being put through, I would _probably_ assume the caller had already passed whatever security was in place. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/264 "2012-12-09T02:31:21Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I wouldn’t blame the nurse who finally took the call for violating privacy. If I’d been told by another staff member that it was the queen being put through, I would _probably_ assume the caller had already passed whatever security was in place. Good point. We don’t even know what security procedures that hospital had in place. It’s entirely possible that they were actually followed (in which case they’re woefully inadequate) or that the hospital didn’t properly train the staff about them (she was just a night nurse, not a receptionist). If that’s the case then neither nurse deserved any kind of reprimand. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/265 "2012-12-09T02:42:26Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Good point. We don’t even know what security procedures that hospital had in place. It’s entirely possible that they were actually followed (in which case they’re woefully inadequate) or that the hospital didn’t properly train the staff about them (she was just a night nurse, not a receptionist). If that’s the case then neither nurse deserved any kind of reprimand. Speaking from a US bias, a nurse will have a LOT more training about how to handle medical information than a receptionist. A receptionist won’t answer medical questions even if the person asking is totally legitimate – the training they receive is to say, “I don’t have the medical training to discuss these issues.” A receptionist would (or should) pass along any such inquiries to a nurse or other medical staff, unless one of those folks has prepared some information for the receptionist to hand out. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/266 "2012-12-09T03:49:57Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > I don’t see it as similar to the prank you’re thinking up at all, because that would be frankly psychotic. Oooooh, I see. Imitating someone’s mother- and The Queen to boot- and then broadcasting the private information divulged isn’t psychotic. Well, this is a big Internet. We’re allowed to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/267 "2012-12-09T03:59:48Z")
I’m with **SciFiSam**. Your example is psychotic, what they did here was merely juvenile and irresponsible. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/268 "2012-12-09T04:17:51Z")
Aside from the lack of security/privacy protocols exhibited by the hospital, and that no reasonable person could have possibly foreseen this tragic outcome, for those arguing that public humiliation directly caused the death of Jacintha Saldanha, two things to consider: 1. That suicide is a much more complex issue than one singular event; 2. That if you truly believe public degradation is what drove this nurse killed herself, then directing so much self-justified venom-filled sameness towards Michael Christian and Mel Greig hardly strengthens your point. Without question, it is incredibly sad for her family and friends, but much more unfortunate than the seconds-long prank call is that it seems her depression remained so widely undetected. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/269 "2012-12-09T05:56:00Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Aside from the lack of security/privacy protocols exhibited by the hospital, and that no reasonable person could have possibly foreseen this tragic outcome, for those arguing that public humiliation directly caused the death of Jacintha Saldanha, two things to consider: > > 1. That suicide is a much more complex issue than one singular event; > > 2. That if you truly believe public degradation is what drove this nurse killed herself, then > directing so much self-justified venom-filled sameness towards Michael Christian and Mel > Greig hardly strengthens your point. > > Without question, it is incredibly sad for her family and friends, but much more unfortunate than the seconds-long prank call is that it seems her depression remained so widely undetected. I linked to this in the other thread, but I think it’s worth linking here too: [There is more to tragedy than meets the eye](http://www.news.com.au/national/there-is-more-to-tragedy-than-meets-the-eye/story-fndo4bst-1226532817686). ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/270 "2012-12-09T06:37:15Z")
Thanks for the thoughtful link, **Eliahna** - written from the perspective of a person with some first-hand experience I’m sure no-one here would like to have. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/271 "2012-12-09T09:43:55Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > This is also out of line, and I hadn’t seen it earlier. Don’t make posts like this directed at other posters in this forum. The Pit is for insults, take it there, please… At the time of posting I was unaware of the death of the nurse. What was intended to be a bit of lighthearted Brit/Aussie banter now looks crass, to say the least. I apologise. **6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast** : No offence intended, none taken. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/272 "2012-12-09T10:23:01Z")
Too late now, **mascaroni**. It was an ill-conceived, poorly executed prank, and an innocent (me) paid a high price for it. Hold back, folks. I AM joking. Thanks for the apology, **mascaroni** ; both unexpected and graciously accepted. And at the time of your post, nobody knew anyone had died, not even the dead person. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/273 "2012-12-09T10:29:51Z")
Only hacks and unfunny people bother with pranks. This story is just terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/274 "2012-12-09T16:28:34Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > UK Dopers, what _are_ the UK rules/regs/laws regarding medical records and privacy? IANAL but I understand patients rights in the UK are defined by the European Convention of Human Rights and the Data Protection Act. The main point is that it is the patent’s decision as to who can be told about their condition. So saying “I’m the patient’s Mum, I have a right to know” shouldn’t give you access to any information. But I don’t know anything about the finer points of the law. For instance, I don’t know what the law says about Kate instructing the hospital to tell the Queen anything she asks for. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/275 "2012-12-10T02:30:13Z")
BBC is saying the British police want to interview the Aussie DJs and that the latter have said they’ll cooperate fully in any investigation. Leaving aside the desire for any revenge, which laws would be in question of having been broken? I believe I heard that the prank was not broadcast live but rather prerecorded and okayed ahead of time by the station lawyers. And how would the international nature of it come into play? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/276 "2012-12-10T02:45:14Z")
In some places it’s illegal to record a conversation without knowledge of both parties – I dunno if that would be applicable. And maybe there’s some kind of generic “misuse of public facility” charge that could be slapped on for abusing the phone system. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/277 "2012-12-10T02:49:25Z")
But the station lawyers okayed it. If they’re ruled wrong, wouldn’t they be the ones in trouble? I don’t know the law in either country, but assume recording without the call receiver knowing it is illegal in Britain but legal in Australia – how would something like that be handled? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/278 "2012-12-10T03:29:17Z")
The lawyers wouldn’t be in trouble. Lawyers just give advice. Whoever has the authority to decide at the company would be responsible. It would be very difficult to punish Australian deejays under British law. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/279 "2012-12-10T05:52:23Z")
So now BBC has interviewed an executive of the radio station’s parent company – I think it may be the same CEO who held that conference the other day – and he claimed they tried to contact all the nurses involved five times before broadcasting the prank in order to talk to them about receiving their permission. He didn’t say if they managed to get ahold of any of them, but I presume they didn’t or else he would have said. But I don’t know how this would matter. Could they use this as some sort of esoteric legal defense, that they had tried their best to obtain permission? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859/280 "2012-12-10T14:44:57Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Aside from the lack of security/privacy protocols exhibited by the hospital, and that no reasonable person could have possibly foreseen this tragic outcome, for those arguing that public humiliation directly caused the death of Jacintha Saldanha, two things to consider: > > 1. That suicide is a much more complex issue than one singular event; > > 2. That **if you truly believe public degradation is what drove this nurse killed herself, then > directing so much self-justified venom-filled sameness towards Michael Christian and Mel > Greig hardly strengthens your point.** > > Without question, it is incredibly sad for her family and friends, but much more unfortunate than the seconds-long prank call is that it seems her depression remained so widely undetected. (My bolding). Well put. Some of the people I’ve seen get the most angry about this would, I think, be quite happy if the DJs did commit suicide - they’re certainly acting as if they think death is a suitable punishment for them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kate-middleton-is-pregnant/642859.md?page=15)