It is a tricky one I suppose. I agree with Ung that it is very easy to end up with a raised eyebrow when you say you feel a little unwell, I had that feeling myself and quickly said I was fine.

I don't think there is much upside for an airline in allowing passengers with certain symptoms to continue travel. Serious illness on board after the captain or FA allowed them to travel will, apart from the predicament of the passenger, probably result in disciplinary action and maybe even fines from the country they are flying to for allowing a sick person to travel. On the other hand it's not the passenger's fault so EK could have been more helpful although they may say its the passenger's fault for travelling when he knew he was sick. In this case common sense should have prevailed where they recognise it's probably only minor but had to offload for procedure reasons and so provided some after support and not ruined a journey and lost a passenger for life no doubt.