Death after water drinking contest:

[DeltAlum]

The Vice President of Promotions at the station was quoted as being "stunned."

My guess is that a lot of people don't know that drinking large amounts of water can be dangerous.

I'm sure the FCC will have to take a look at this, but wonder if there will be anything actionable under the Communications Act from which it derives its power.

I'd guess the station will have a pretty heavy civil suit from the woman's family.

It was a stupid contest.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

The Vice President of Promotions at the station was quoted as being "stunned."

My guess is that a lot of people don't know that drinking large amounts of water can be dangerous.

I definitely think this is the case. To be very honest, up until a few years ago (2002-2003?), I didn't know drinking large amounts of water could kill you. The only reason I know now was because some pledges of a nearby fraternity were killed during a hazing incident in which the pledges were forced to drink lots of water.

[Kevin]

The prosecutors of this show could be indicted for manslaughter. There will definitely be some wrongful death charges filed.

I don't think the station will "get away" with anything.

[SoCalGirl]

A local station here, Star 94.1, ran this exact same contest in the evening last week. I think it was also on Friday. I seriously thought this was a local story until I read that it was in Sacramento. When I went shopping tonight the evening DJs were freaking out and talking to some expert who said it only takes a gallon of water for this to happen. The DJs swore they would never do something that stupid again.

[UGAalum94]

Kevin, do you really think so? I have no idea, but is offering a potential reward for drinking water enough to be guilty of manslaughter?

Remember, these were adults who elected to participate in a public contest in hopes of winning a video game. Surely more of the responsibility ought to rest with individuals who elect to participate. It's not a situation in which they face punishment or harm for not participating, unlike hazing cases.


Now, I expect a civil suit from the woman's family in which they will fault the station for creating a dangerous situation, but criminal charges would surprise me.

Who knows?

Has anyone seen more about how much water the woman drank total? What size were the water bottles after the first hour?

Does anyone else wonder why no one else got sick?

[jon1856]

A few more links:
Why is too much water dangerous?

WHO, WHAT, WHY?
The Magazine answers... :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6263029.stm
Ms Strange had hoped to win the video game system for her three children believing a few extra pints of the thirst-quenching would do no harm besides overloading the bladder. Participants first started off on small 220ml (8 ounces) bottles of water at 15-minute intervals. Those who progressed beyond five or more bottles without showing any discomfort were then given larger bottles to drink.:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/20261.html
Woman loses life over a Wii

By CRISTINA JEWETT

McClatchy News Service

SACRAMENTO - Contestants in a radio stunt called ''Hold Your Wee for a Wii'' have revealed new details about an on-air water drinking contest that left a 28-year-old mother of three dead.
Jennifer Lea Strange died after drinking well over a half gallon of water Friday during the ''Morning Rave'' program on KDND-FM. About 18 contestants vied for a Nintendo Wii gaming console by drinking as much water as they could without going to the bathroom; Strange took second place.:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16466226.htm

[UGAalum94]

The last link has a lot of new information that contradicts the previous info.

It's going to be interesting to see what shakes out of the lawsuit, and it seems to me that some other contestants are positioning themselves to sue.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Kevin, do you really think so? I have no idea, but is offering a potential reward for drinking water enough to be guilty of manslaughter?

Remember, these were adults who elected to participate in a public contest in hopes of winning a video game. Surely more of the responsibility ought to rest with individuals who elect to participate. It's not a situation in which they face punishment or harm for not participating, unlike hazing cases.


Now, I expect a civil suit from the woman's family in which they will fault the station for creating a dangerous situation, but criminal charges would surprise me.

Who knows?

Has anyone seen more about how much water the woman drank total? What size were the water bottles after the first hour?

Does anyone else wonder why no one else got sick?

Manslaughter? Hell yes. The radio station created a risk which they probably should have known about which resulted in the death of someone. Will a prosecutor file charges? Dunno.. will a jury convict? No clue. Can a case be made? Sure. At the very least, a "Negligent Homicide" case could lie.

The D.A. might want to make an example out of this radio station, he might be a publicity freak (D.A.s are politicians and drawn to these sorts of cases like moths to light -- see Nagin).

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Manslaughter? Hell yes. The radio station created a risk which they probably should have known about which resulted in the death of someone. Will a prosecutor file charges? Dunno.. will a jury convict? No clue. Can a case be made? Sure. At the very least, a "Negligent Homicide" case could lie.

The D.A. might want to make an example out of this radio station, he might be a publicity freak (D.A.s are politicians and drawn to these sorts of cases like moths to light -- see Nagin).

I suspect you mean Nifong, right?

Are you a lawyer?
What standards have to be present to charge for each thing?

(I realized that I seem more sceptical than I mean to. I'm not trying to challenge you. I'm just interested in knowing how it works.)

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Manslaughter? Hell yes.

This quote from the Miami Herald article would seem to bolster Kevin's opinion...

"Two years ago a 21-year-old fraternity pledge at California State University, Chico, died after a night of hazing during which he drank excessive amounts of water. Four members of the fraternity later pleaded guilty to charges including involuntary manslaughter."