Let's not confuse a stunt, which harms no one, with a prank, the OBJECT of which is to humilate someone, as in this case. Let's also remember you don't mess with someone's livelihood, even "in fun." These two jerks are not the victims here.

The prank is obnoxious but my question is, how was it that the call was put through to the bedside nurse?! Why on earth doesn't the hospital -- particularly this hospital, which the royals apparently have used and trusted for decades -- have a more sophisticated screening protocol before a call could possibly get that far? It certainly was not the nurse's responsibility to question who was on the line.

Shame on Mary Franklin from Oregon. Has she never heard of HIPPA? In the USA, all health employees are strictly instructed to protect patient privacy. Would Mary Franklin appreciate a prank call to her hospital nurse should she be hospitalized? Ha, Ha, Ha... until it happens to you!

Remember when Sarah Palin was caught on air thinking she was really talking to Nicolas Sarkozy? Seems to me exposing Palin's idiocy was perfectly legit.

What I'd like to now is how the nurse's supervisors reacted & whether they had anything to do w/ her feeling so bad.

There is another facet to this story you are not speaking about. Divulging patient information to unauthorized people is a huge mistake for a medical worker in the light of confidentiality rules like HIPPA. There is a good chance she faced losing her job, being fined a large some of money (and hospital also fined), and losing her professional license or being put on professional probation. Also the hospital and nursing profession culture is such that this nurse would be hung out to dry due the blemish on the facility's reputation. It is not just, she, as an individual overacted to the situation. The general public and media have no clue how serious something like this is taken and I am disgusted the media is trying to blame this nurse who dedicated her life to helping others.

What is the matter with people. Pranks have been in human culture forever. How is it that we have become soooo concerned and insist on making things like this so significant. Telephones were great for making prank calls back in the day. My father tells about tipping over outhouses. Come on people get over yourselves.

Sick of how intolerant and "sensitive" people have become.

M

Needs to be remembered that the nurse was of Indian background, so the accent nuances would have been lost on her. Plus, her culture would have her deeply ashamed and embarrassed. Still, doing a joke call on a hospital is in bad taste, however which way one cuts it.

A good rule of thumb is you want to be laughing "with" people, not "at" them.

What have you been smoking? There is no element of journalism in a prank

A prank has as its intent the infliction of emotional distress. The pranksters in this case are hiding behind the argument - how could we possible have known that such a prank would have such devistating impact? When you play a prank, you expose yourself to unlimited liability.