Kate Middleton Prank Call Death: DJs' Action Foolish, Says Hospital

"It was extremely foolish of your presenters even to consider trying to lie their way through to one of our patients, let alone actually make the call," Lord Glenarthur, Chairman of the King Edward VII Hospital has said in a letter to the Australian radio station that aired the prank call.

The owners of Sydney 2Day FM have stood by the presenters saying nothing illegal had been done.

Although the CEO of the company which owns the radio station said he is "incredibly saddened" by the death of the 46-year-old nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, he defended the DJs saying they are also humans and "not machines."

Reacting to the Saldanha's death, which was allegedly due to the hoax call, Lord Glenarthur wrote: "Then to discover that, not only had this happened, but that the call had been pre-recorded and the decision to transmit approved by your station's management, was truly appalling. The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words."

The show has been indefinitely taken off air while the radio station also cancelled all its advertisements.

The family of Saldanha has been "devastated" by the news of her death. Cerolin D'Souza, the nurse's sister living in a town in the southern Indian state of Karnataka told reporters: "We were wondering what had happened, whether she met with an accident when she was returning home from the hospital. He [Saldanha's husband] was not able to communicate and he broke down." Reports suggest the hospital did not discipline the nurse.

The presenters are also said to be "fragile" over the worldwide condemnation of the incident. Both the DJs are undergoing intensive counselling, the company's spokesperson told the AAP news agency.

The letter sent by Lord Glenarthur, Chairman of King Edward VII's Hospital, Sister Agnes, to Max Moore-Wilton, Chairman of Southern Cross Austereo.

"I am writing to protest in the strongest possible terms about the hoax call made from your radio station, 2DayFM, to this hospital last Tuesday.

King Edward VII's Hospital cares for sick people, and it was extremely foolish of your presenters even to consider trying to lie their way through to one of our patients, let alone actually make the call.

Then to discover that, not only had this happened, but that the call had been pre-recorded and the decision to transmit approved by your station's management, was truly appalling.

The immediate consequence of these premeditated and ill-considered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients.

The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words.

I appreciate that you cannot undo the damage which has been done but I would urge you to take steps to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated."