Have you ever treated or assisted a sick person in the air?

[Larry Ragman]

The rest of us appreciate what you all have done. I was on a plane out of Dulles that just pushed back when the guy behind me had an episode those of us nearby assumed was a heart attack. No help on the plane. (Well, a dentist showed up b7t admitted he could not help.) Airline would not let us off. EMTs took 20 minutes to get on board (had to bring up stairs because, well, not at the gate.) Finally carted the poor guy off. Never heard what happened to him, but I do know we sat on the plane another hour until they could get his luggage off!

[Zaphod]

Well it finally happened. They called. Someone in first class had an apparent syncopal episode, quick recovery, no hx. Didnt eat, drink much and had been sitting a long time.

Doing well now and drinking. Luckily we land in 20 mins, no pressure there. She was a bit confused when she woke up, but seemed to be warming to her new cup size.

[Arkad]

Was on a 14 hour flight over the pacific when the announcement came.  I waited and then they repeated it.  I have not touched a stethoscope in over 2 decades.  I went to the back and two other people were there with a flight attendant.  The passenger had passed out but was now awake.  One of the people was talking about opening the defibrillator and the other was being asked if we should land somewhere.  Nobody had taken a BP so I did and it was low.  We hydrated him and he started looking better.  The flight attendant thanked me and offered to give me some miles.  The other two then asked for some too (they were talking to each other the entire time).  The passenger asked us all what kind of doctors we were.  One was a dean of a medical school but a former cardiologist, the other a pulmonologist.  I told him what I did and I was hoping the other two felt at least a little ashamed for letting me take care of the guy and then asking for miles for doing nothing.

[G-pathy]

There’s an app for that. airRx
http://airrxmedical.com/index.html

[Ray]

I'm a pathologist, so if I get involved...its probably a little too late.

-Ray

[akmd]

I have, there was a lady sitting right next me, I was in the window seated and she was in aisle...the air hostess was giving me my can of soda....she suddenly looked to her right and boom, the can of soda made contact with her right eye and she screamed...her husband who will sitting on the other side across the aisle freaked out.

I did a mini eye exam - as best of an exam as an anesthesiologist can do, minus the opthalmoscopic exam...the eye was red and swollen, no visual impairment.

she was fine...I think it was just reassurance that helped her...

united gave me 10, 000 points as a thank you 6 weeks later

[treesrock]

Helped on a international United flight about a month ago, United compensation is pretty low but I'll gladly take the 15,000 miles for pretty minimal work.  Plus I would feel bad not helping at this point in my young career.

Interestingly, the situation I was in was very clear, we needed to land (guy had a stroke), but the flight crew still needed to "confirm" with their crew on the ground to make sure my call was OK.  I was a little peeved that some schmuck on the ground could overrule my call but they immediately confirmed so that was that.  I bet its super awkward when the ground crew disagrees.

[q-school]

if that's all they need, perhaps the appropriate question is whether a nurse is on board?

this is not meant to disparage the profession, only to align goals with professional responsibilities.

I'm not clear on how exactly good Samaritan laws work in the air and what liabilities they include, and whether they could be changed/updated

I'm not going to really care what some physician? on the ground says if I'm volunteering to help someone in the air.

ymmv

 

[Zaphod]

ENT Doc wrote:

An interesting article about this dynamic in Bloomberg:

Is There a Doctor Aboard? Airlines Often Hope Not – Bloomberg
https://apple.news/AF2SXuAg8RlqleyqaUSW4Kw

Click to expand...

Makes sense. Interesting how they view you, as an educated info gatherer.

[ENT Doc]

An interesting article about this dynamic in Bloomberg:

Is There a Doctor Aboard? Airlines Often Hope Not - Bloomberg
https://apple.news/AF2SXuAg8RlqleyqaUSW4Kw

[VagabondMD]

I think we should stage these in air emergencies as the latest travel hacking gimmick.

I will see if my wife (different last name) will pretend to faint on our next flight and will report back!

Edit: I have checked with my wife, and she is not willing to participate in this "Bonnie and Clyde scam."

[nachos31]

Miss Bonnie MD wrote:

Not that anyone wants a dermatologist to be the only doctor on a plane.

Click to expand...

I dunno, if he/she looks a little pale, derm would be all over it  8O

[G]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Happened again on my flight home from SLC last night. That’s twice in five days, both on return trips to MSP.

Again, it was syncope / near syncope, but it happened more than once, so I started an IV and was able to give the patient a liter of fluid before we landed. Also some juice for the sugar, just in case.

Once all was calm, the flight attendant asked for my info, including Skymiles account, and she said she was giving me a $150 credit. Not as generous as AA — they gave me enough to book a flight to Honduras — but better than a pat on the back or a couple Slim Jims, which another doc told me was his reward once.

Be safe out there! And please drink plenty of fluids.

[Update: Got this via e-mail to confirm]

Click to expand...

Dude, this is like a serious black cloud NOT something good!!!

I've been Gold or Platinum forever and haven't been called since my daughter was in utero.  So that is (conservatively) 50k/yr x 9 years or around 450,000 airmiles with no need for a doc.  Johanna, you can fly with me if it would make you more comfortable.

(And I fully understand that I am fully hosing myself for the next 450k....)

[Miss Bonnie MD]

I once helped a lady for syncope. Not that anyone wants a dermatologist to be the only doctor on a plane.

[jfoxcpacfp]

PhysicianOnFIRE wrote:

Happened again on my flight home from SLC last night. That’s twice in five days, both on return trips to MSP.

Again, it was syncope / near syncope, but it happened more than once, so I started an IV and was able to give the patient a liter of fluid before we landed. Also some juice for the sugar, just in case.

Once all was calm, the flight attendant asked for my info, including Skymiles account, and she said she was giving me a $150 credit. Not as generous as AA — they gave me enough to book a flight to Honduras — but better than a pat on the back or a couple Slim Jims, which another doc told me was his reward once.

Be safe out there! And please drink plenty of fluids.

[Update: Got this via e-mail to confirm]

Click to expand...

Can you let us know your itinerary in the future? No offense and I love you like a brother, but I’d like to avoid sharing a flight with you.