Widow Sues American Airlines Over In-Flight Death
Jeff Edwards August 29, 2014
The spouse of an Illinois man who died after complaining of chest pains onboard an American Airlines flight is suing the airline for not taking the incident seriously.
A lawsuit has been filed against American Airlines following the 2013 death of a 52 year-old Illinois man who died at Chicago-O’Hare Airport (ORD) following a flight from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). The lawsuit claims that the flight crew did not make an announcement asking for assistance from any medical professionals who might have been on board and alleges that the airline “failed to exercise the highest degree of care and caution.”
Michael Holden, the widow’s attorney, told the Chicago Tribune, “Very few, if any, measures were taken to get him medical attention.” American declined to comment on the pending litigation.
The lawsuit also faults American for not diverting to a closer airport rather than continuing to ORD, though the flight from PIT to ORD has an approximate duration of 50 to 70 minutes.
A 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that when physicians respond to onboard medical emergencies, flights are diverted slightly more than nine percent of the time. When only the flight crew responds to a health crisis in the air, flights are diverted less than five percent of the time.
The study also found that while inflight medical issues occur in about one out of every 600 flights, deaths onboard and emergency flight diversions are exceedingly rare. The authors of the NEJM article urged medical professionals to voluntarily identify themselves to the crew at the onset of every flight.
[Photo: American Airlines]
well, they aren't complaining about the lack of response from physicians but rather that none was sought by AA. Not saying they have a case, of course, far too few details for that from the article, but it does seem odd that they have an (eventually fatal) medical emergency and don't even page for a physician. They may, of course, have a reason that isn't obvious here.
This is bogus. Paging for any medical professional on board to assist is a request, not a command. Doctors get days off too, especially if they have had a few drinks on board. Or if they have no medical malpractice insurance because they are in academia/research or are self-insuring. Or if they have a specialty which does not include emergency care (dermatology, podiatry, ear, nose & wallet). Some families just don't believe in natural death. If anyone of any age, with any physical condition and any poor health habits dies it is clearly someone's fault. Lawyer Up!
Headline's a bit off. A widower would be the husband, but he's the decedent. Should read "Widow sues...."