The LA Times looks closer at in-flight medical emergencies.
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{ 10 comments }
85% is an extremely high number…..how can we have a doctor shortage yet 85% of flights have one? Something doesnt add up here.
Also, the quote below is disturbing:
“And if there is a medical professional onboard, passengers can be reasonably assured that he or she will step forward, says Dr. Priscilla Ray, chairwoman of the council on ethical and judicial affairs for the American Medical Assn. “That’s our technical obligation and part of the public’s trust in us — that we will respond as best we can,” Ray says.”
This is a freaking joke. Doctors are in NO WAY obligated to step in for good samaritan reasons. Whether a doctor wants to help or not is SOLELY within their discretion. This stupid idiotic comment by thte AMA person could be used as fuel in a lawsuit for “failing to render aid.” Absolutely assinine.
Why would I be a good samaritan and help one of you asshole litigants out there for nothing? Any doctor who ats as a good samaritan is nuts…
You obnoxious Americans deserve to be treated the same way we treat roadkill when we see it on the road…just drive right by and fuggettabouddit!
True professionals, each of you.
A physician who works with me was on an overseas flight and responded to help a man in coach who had a nut allergy and must have encountered some trace nuts in his meal. The airplane had epinepherine on board but before they would let the physician administer it to the stricken man, they insisted on seeing a copy of his medical license. He didn’t have a paper copy of it, refusing to carry one in his wallet in case it was ever stolen, although he did carry a scanned copy on his business laptop. While the slow laptop was booting up, he shook his head at the flight crew and told them that if the man died, it was their fault. Luckily for the man, the laptop booted up in time and it all turned out all right.
4:25 , 4:26 may the DARK FORCE be with you.
Honestly, I agree with crazy doc. I’ve told my wife that if we are ever on a plane and this happens not to say anything. Why would I shoulder the liability for that situation without any renumeration. I know everyone expects doctors to be martyrs, but there is a limit.
Seriously, being a professional is all about getting paid. It’s like selling canned goods – no money, no obligation! When will the rest of you see that? And start being true cowards like Anon 10:08?
what are they teaching in med school? to be a dumb, uncaring doctor? no wonder there are many lawsuits. read some of the posts, and you can identify them it seems like there’s some 1 or 2 people talking to themselves posing as the other one. cut your act, next time, i’ll show your IPs here.
Well what DO you do when the patient sues you when you step forward to help out? I don’t know if it’s the fact that you don’t get paid for being a good samaritan as much as it is fear of liability. I’m sure getting sued is NOT fun, and you never know who’s going to do it.
Do you really have to be a doctor to administer epinepherine anyway? Why did these folks even need the doctor’s help in the nut case?
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