Many questions to answer over nurse's death

Jacintha Saldanha has now become a household name not only in Britain but also in many other countries around the globe. The dedicated nurse, who was committed to serve the sick and the frail, took her own life apparently out of distress and humiliation of being duped by a prank call made by two Aussie DJs, who impersonated members of the British royal family.

The suicide notes left by Mrs Saldanha have reportedly been critical of the DJs and staff members of the King Edward VII hospital, where the mother of two was employed. Mrs Saldanha's death has left an "unfillable void" in her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza and their children Junal and Lisha.

'Beg, borrow or steal'

Mrs Saldanha's death has raised many questions at different levels.

- Are prank calls or impersonation desirable or acceptable in any form of journalism or for that matter in the media?

- Did the DJs and their Editor or Producer follow the best practice by not telling Mrs Saldanha that they had indulged in a prank call and impersonation, and they would broadcast the conversation or its content?

- Was it ethical to make fun at the cost of someone?

The mishap has also raised more ethical questions about the mode of operation and the code of conduct of journalists and broadcasters at a time of cut-throat (unprincipled or ruthless) journalism in an age of fierce competition.

Editors often ask their reporters to beg, borrow or steal to get  exclusive stories so that they can save their backs or have edge over their competitors. Incidents like the phone-hacking in the UK are serious pointers to the fact that the custodians of journalistic ethics are not engaging themselves in the best possible ways.

When I first joined the BBC more than 13 years ago, I was told that it was unethical to record or photograph someone without informing the person concerned. The failing became even more serious if that recording or photograph was used for broadcast without informing the person concerned, and sometimes even a formal permission was necessary unless the matter related to public interest.

The radio station in Australia which allowed making the prank call and cleared it for broadcast has to answer these questions. Others in the media fraternity also needed to learn serious lessons from the sad and untimely demise of a caring mother and a loving wife.

Unfair treatment

The authorities at the King Edward VII Hospital have to clear the air about the treatment meted out to the Indian-born nurse after the prank call.

- Why a nurse on duty had to take a call from outside?

A nurse was competent to serve the sick and the frail but the work of a receptionist called for different skill sets.

- Has the hospital authority failed in providing timely and adequate support to the grieving family of Mrs Saldanha?

- Was Mrs Saldanha pulled up or treated unfairly because she was an immigrant?

Being an Indian myself, I have seen people being pulled up or ridiculed for being immigrants and also for their Indian English and accents.

If Britain is serious about integration in an age of globalisation, when there is free flow of goods, services and people, the politicians, policy-makers and intellectuals need to ponder over the real issues surrounding the death of Mrs Saldanha.

British parliamentarian of Indian origin Keith Vaz might have been instrumental, and quite rightly so, in helping and comforting the grieving family of Mrs Saldanha, Prime Minister David Cameron might have been swift in paying his tribute to the caring nurse, but the matter will reach a closure only if the people at the helm in Britain could identify the problems relating to race-relations in the country.

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