Originally Posted by
AS Flyer
... an doctor onboard can't order a flight to divert - only Medlink doctors can do that. A doctor onboard can certainly convey the gravity of a situation to Medlink, but ultimately, the decision is between the Captain and Medlink....
And further hair-splitting: the
final authority is always the Captain's; the FAR (Federal Air Regulation) that both guides and chastens
every pilot:
§ 91.3 Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command.
(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.3
Of course, that doesn't mean AS doesn't have internal procedures and consultative process set up (and procedures when a pilot deviates from those), but, in the end, the Pilot-in-Command is the only one responsible for the final decision - for better or worse.