Originally Posted by Kman
I'm a licensed physician, but not a practicing one (I design research trials), so I don't jump up instantly at the first call for "is there a doctor on board" because I look for someone more qualified than I am to step in, but if I dont see any movement, I have nonetheless often responded to calls for medical help, and once (only) got a bottle of wine and a nice card from the Captain. And I wouldn't have thought that I was doing it to "help out the airline", but rather to help another person. To think that I should have been "compensated" for doing what I am trained to do on behalf of another human being in need is preposterous. I do it because I can (and since I can, I must). How could any physician stand by and watch someone in real need, and not do something about it?
A physician would certainly help in an emergency as professional ethics and human compassion dictates. And a wish for renumeration should certainly not be the motivation for helping others. Still: some sort of appreciation is nice.
On the UA flight mentioned, I was thanked by the captain and the purser gave me a bottle of champagne. I also received a lower 48 Upgrade certificate (sorry to UA FFs, don't know the technical term for it). As I rarely travel domestically in the US, I politely asked whether it would be possible for my partner and I to be upgraded on the return to Europe (*A G; award Y-tickets). As we left the plane, we got an oral confirmation that we would be upgraded on our return flight (to C) which we were. I later received a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of UA enclosing another upgrade certificate; neither of which I was able to use by the way.
The familiy of my patient were insistent on paying me a fee, which I refused. They later sent me an edible gift, but what I cherished the most, was the handwritten letter I received from the patient herself a couple of months later.
I would certainly have done the same thing if I hadn't received the upgrades to C. But as I actually saved UA a costly diversion, I don't find it inappropriate that UA showed their appreciation in this way. As for the "soapboxing": I make a living as a physician. I do not have to get paid for everything I do professionally, but I disagree with Kman that it is "preposterous" to accept a gratification from the airline. If it were unethical to accept this, wouldn't my monthly salary as a physician be just as unacceptable?