iahphx

That's the rub, of course. There are usually rules for pregnant women, but I don't think there are many rules -- yet alone enforceable rules -- for other at-risk travellers. If I am correct and medical diversions are increasing, we will probably see more gate agent training on spotting at-risk passengers. That's obviously not going to be a perfect solution. The airlines could loosen up on flight changes for illness, but I doubt they will because it is so easily abused (I wonder what happens in the real world if you call the airline and say grandpa isn't feeling so well today -- do they help?). My best guess is that the number of diversions just increases a bit and we all have to deal with it.

LarryJ

MedLink.

Medical Advisory Services- MedLink

The airlines contract with MedLink to make those medical decisions.

Badenoch

That covers immediate situations but the OP seems to be seeking far more including instant diagnosis by gate agents of potential diversions and a preemptive determination of existing conditions that would prevent someone from flying. Who decides which conditions might disrupt other travel plans? How does the airline know who has a preexisting condition?

I have no complaints about medical diversions. I am not so self-absorbed to demand the airline consider my schedule more important than the health and safety of another passenger.

LarryJ

MedLink. See the link I posted.

Segments

venomtrilogy

Obviously, many people who have medical emergencies mid-flight planned to have those incidents. Clearly, they know a heart attack or an aneurysm is coming, so they book a flight to inconvenience a few hundred other people.

I've been on one flight that I actually think the ill passenger was to blame. It was TPAC and the original flight was delayed a day due to mechanical issues. Three hours into the next day's flight there was the "Is there a doctor aboard?" announcement. Shortly after that was the "We're diverting to Anchorage" announcement. Between getting the sick passenger off and preparing the plane to leave, the crew would've been overtime, so we spent the night there. That night I found out that the passenger was flying home to die among friends and family. But where this person screwed up was putting their medication in their checked baggage, which wasn't allowed off the plane after the first day's mechanical delay. Always pack medication in carry-on.

tmiw

I remember Virgin Australia actively encouraging people to let staff know if they're unwell a few years ago (both on the LAX-BNE flight and the return trip). At least one person was offloaded before departure too. Other carriers could do better in that regard but I'm not sure airlines should be interrogating people either.

That said, I don't think that medical diversions have increased in regularity. I only remember one ever happening, even (and that was when I was a kid). Of course, that's just one anecdote.

Jeannietx

In the death of the 25 yo female, from what I have read about it, AA most certainly grossly erred. In addition to not taking the word of the doctor onboard, some of the medical equipment was not operable, including the defibrillator.

My DD is a board certified emergency physician. I hope she is never on a plane when they are asking for a doctor. Can you imagine the stress and emotional pain the physician felt after the pilot asked for his professional advise, and then refused it while the doctor is still trying to save her life.

To heck with the "inconvenienced passengers". Her family will never know if her life could have been saved if the pilot had only taken the doctor's educated opinion.

Interpol

I'm a board certified anesthesiologist. About 5 years ago I was one of those "doctors on the plane" on a AA DCA-LAX flight (coming home from an anesthesiology conference, ironically) when the FA asked for assistance over the PA for a woman who was suffering an allergic reaction to the seafood that was being served in F.

TBH, I was rather impressed with the medical treatment kit they had on board. In addition to basic first aid supplies and oxygen, the kit also had IV lines and fluids, syringes, needles, and various emergency medications (Benadryl, epinephrine, morphine, versed, etc.) in it. Of course, the FAs had me show them my medical license before allowing me access to the kit, and I was allowed to talk to the MedLink physician on call as well as the captain to discuss the woman's situation. I gave them my assessment and the captain asked me if I thought we should divert. At this point in the flight, we were past PHX and I had managed to stabilize the patient with some doses of benadryl, epinephrine, and versed and told him we could probably make it to LAX OK. Landed in LAX where paramedics were waiting at the jetway.

Quite an experience.

Toshbaf

<br /><br />From what I've read, it is not clear that "AA most certainly grossly erred". It is within the realm of possibility that AA did nothing wrong and the passenger was entirely at fault for ignoring warning signs on the ground, being that she was a nurse. It is within the realm of possibility that the woman doctor who volunteered had good intentions but did not understand how to use the equipment. (Or maybe that the AED was broken). The AED is not a shocker that brings dead people alive. In particular, if the woman was found on the floor over Albuquerque, it is entirely possible that by the time the commotion subsided enough for a decision that DFW was the best available choice

evergrn

KDS777

This happened to me 3 years ago.

A very pregnant lady in Y complained 45 minutes in flight, and the next thing you know, we are turning 180 and heading back to YYC. I was on my way to MSP. This is not the problem however. I'd want them to do the same for me if I was having a serious issue too.

I knew we'd be landing heavy due to the fuel load and the aircraft would be grounded until Delta could get a maintenance crew to certify it for flight again. We got the run around from Delta for 6 hours in the airport, before they finally told us to come back tomorrow.

They could have been straight up in the first 15 minutes, but that's not Delta's style apparently.

iahphx

I suspect you'd change your tune if you just experienced two diversions in two months that were both 100% avoidable had the passengers, and/or their families, taken just a little more care in deciding whether to fly.

Hopefully, my run of "bad luck" will now end, and I'll get to again experience that "1 in 7000 flights" odds. I'm pretty sure those diversion odds are going to be increasing, though.

Badenoch

My tune would stay the same. There's no point in ranting and raving after the fact. Demanding families and/or individuals "take just a little more care in deciding whether to fly" so you can keep your schedule isn't likely to have much effect.

StuckInYYZ

I have to agree with Badenoch.

It happens. If a passenger is at risk (doesn't have to be human... eg: could also be the pets/service animals onboard) I would expect the crew to keep the health and safety of all the passengers in mind. If it is an inconvenience and costs some people a little bit of time, so be it. If any passengers object, they can certainly take it up with the airline and general public if they so desire.