American Accused of Carrying Uncharged AEDs on Flights
Joe Cortez March 20, 2023
In a federal lawsuit filed on Monday, March 13, 2023, in the Southern District of New York, Melissa Arzu is suing on allegations they failed to meet standards set by the Aviation Medial Assistance Act of 1998.
Mother Claims Son Died Because of Uncharged Defibrillator
Under the Aviation Medical Assistance Act of 1998, Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration to determine what medical equipment airlines should have onboard in the event of an emergency, such as AEDs. It also doesn’t allow damages to airlines for passengers who attempt to help someone in medical distress, if the flyer doesn’t work for the airline and “the carrier in good faith believes that the passenger is medically qualified.”
In the case of American Airlines Flight 614 on June 4, 2022, Arzu accuses American of being negligent in managing their equipment. Kevin Greenridge was a teenager traveling on the flight between Ramon Villeda Morales San Pedro Sula International Airport (SAP) in Honduras to Miami International Airport (MIA). During the trip, the lawsuit claims Greenridge “suddenly went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious.” When the crew attempted to intervene with an AED, the suit alleges it did not shock Greenridge’s heart into starting again because the battery was not charged.
“The foregoing incident and resulting death of the plaintiff’s intestate were caused wholly and solely by reason of the carelessness, recklessness and negligence of the defendant [American Airlines],” the lawsuit reads. It goes on to accuse the Fort Worth-based airline of being derelict in its duties by “failing to maintain an [AED],” and ensuring “the AED and its mobile battery pack were fully and properly charged.”
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified “reasonable” damages and legal fees against the carrier. American Airlines has not publicly commented on the incident, nor have they responded to the complaint in court as of press time. No decision has been made in the lawsuit.
Feature image courtesy: alamosapublichealth/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
While AEDs can vastly improve survival chances after a cardiac arrest, they are but one link in the chain of survival. Sadly, without prompt access to advanced life support from EMS and swift transport to an emergency dept, it's fairly unlikely anyone will survive even with an AED. While still extremely negligent and inexcusable, claims that the death was caused "wholly and solely" by American Airlines is a stretch.
Do AED's have a highly visible "Low Battery" light? If not, they should.
And what do you propose powers the low battery light? Another battery?
Huh? If he was in cardiac arrest the AED wouldn't do anything anyway.
Well, that's not true. Cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped. The electric charge from an AED (defibrilation) could re-start the heart again.
What? An AED is EXACTLY what you would use in Sudden Cardiac Arrest. In particular if if he was in ventricular tachycardia/ ventricular fibrulation. CPR is an attempt to keep the brain alive until an AED can be adminsitered.