Is it appropriate to send message on FB to inform them their father ill, in hospital with serious condition?

[Koni]

Is it appropriate to send a message on FB (as opposed to calling directly) to inform a family member their elderly father has fallen ill and is in the hospital with a relatively serious condition?
Have current phone number, also.

[Angela]

Yes. I would definitely call them!

[Tati]

No, you need to call them. What if they don't check their Facebook for a few days and he takes a turn for the worse? What ever past issues or problems you may have with these family members you have to put your differences aside when illness is involved.

[Katie]

I would think you would try to call them. But if it's the only way you have to reach them i'd say do it! I would try to contact them in every way I knew how. Face book or not. Go over there too! or call others that may know them. too!

[Angela]

Personally, if my father was ill and in the hospital, I would want to know right away. There can be many errors and the message may not be sent or recieved. Another con may be that the person won't be informed that they have a message or overlook it. I would just call the individual directly over the phone because it's much easier.

[fstmny4]

its appropriate for updates and informing cousins, aunts/uncles, niece/nephews etc. The children of the ill should probably get a direct phone call. Id hate to wake up and see a message on fb... Secondly, what if they do not check facebook in time and something serious happens? Such as he codes, and is put on life support. Or even worse, he dies and the kid doesnt know whats going on yet, now you gotta call and give that message. Where you should have called when it first happened. Atleast that way if the child cant get there they know, and if he does die, its not as big of a shock as just finding out everything after the fact. Man up. Call them tell them whats going on.

[briandwales]

yes it is

[Sally wally]

Call immediately.
If I were in that situation, I would want to just be laughing and looking through status updates and yadayada and then BANG! Find out your elderly father is ill!!!! That is just my way of looking at it at a serious situation like this!