Suicide of Jacintha Saldanha

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Suicide of Jacintha Saldanha

The suicide of Jacintha Saldanha occurred on 7 December 2012. Jacintha Saldanha was an Indian nurse who worked at King Edward VII's Hospital in London, United Kingdom. Her death followed a prank call made by two Australian radio DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who pretended to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles in order to obtain information about the medical condition of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who was being treated at the hospital for severe morning sickness.

Background

Jacintha Saldanha was born in Mangalore, India, and had been working in the United Kingdom for several years. She was married and had two children. At the time of the incident, she was employed as a nurse at King Edward VII's Hospital, a private hospital in London known for treating members of the British royal family.

The Prank Call

On 4 December 2012, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, DJs from the Australian radio station 2Day FM, made a prank call to King Edward VII's Hospital. They impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles and managed to speak to Jacintha Saldanha, who transferred the call to another nurse. The second nurse then provided confidential information about the Duchess of Cambridge's condition.

Aftermath and Death

The prank call received widespread media attention and criticism. On 7 December 2012, Jacintha Saldanha was found dead in her apartment in the hospital's nurses' quarters. Her death was later confirmed to be a suicide. Saldanha left behind three suicide notes, in which she expressed her distress over the prank call and the subsequent media coverage.

Reactions

The incident led to a public outcry and raised questions about media ethics and the responsibilities of broadcasters. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) launched an investigation into the conduct of the radio station and the DJs involved. The hospital and the British royal family expressed their condolences to Saldanha's family.

Legacy

Jacintha Saldanha's death highlighted the potential consequences of media pranks and the importance of mental health support for individuals in high-pressure professions. The incident also led to changes in hospital protocols regarding the handling of phone calls and patient information.

See Also

• Mental health
• Media ethics
• British royal family
• Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge