Pranks often have a tragic ending
The story of how the English nurse taking care of Kate Middleton, hospitalized for hyperemesis (morning sickness), was tricked into divulging information about her patient has gone worldwide.
The prank came from two radio jocks in Australia who impersonated Queen Elizabeth and asking about her family. These jocks tricked the nurse into telling personal information. Gleefully the worldwide press picked up the story of Kate's pregnancy. Sadly, the prank came to a tragic end with the suicide of the nurse.
Now the press is saying that the nurse must have been emotionally unstable. These pundits must not realize that registered nurses take the Nightingale Pledge which reads in part: "I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly: To pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully ... I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standards of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my profession."
This nurse realized the whole world knew that she had broken her pledge before God. Pranks start out usually to make a fool of the recipient but too often they end tragically with no way to go back and right the wrong done.
Priscilla Weese
Wheaton
