Delta crew refused to believe black woman was a doctor during emergency
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cooperplace.
I think you sum up the situation well.
My daughter is also a doctor and on flights with various carriers has responded to several calls for a "Medical" doctor.
She does not carry medical ID but always offers her UK doctors registration number to allow the crew to contact the ground if they decide to check her credentials
She too is used to being in command and I feel sure would soon resolve any situations that might occur with crew.
I have seen her in action at a medical emergenvy in the street and was more than impressed.
I think you sum up the situation well.
My daughter is also a doctor and on flights with various carriers has responded to several calls for a "Medical" doctor.
She does not carry medical ID but always offers her UK doctors registration number to allow the crew to contact the ground if they decide to check her credentials
She too is used to being in command and I feel sure would soon resolve any situations that might occur with crew.
I have seen her in action at a medical emergenvy in the street and was more than impressed.
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@cooperplace
That is norm almost all the time, at best they have access to run credit card purchases, there is no way to actually validate so called Doctor's ID. Folks are making up rules to justify the behavior.
Grannies with rolling pins doesn't fit the mold of a normal flight attendant, but we accepted that as a fact even though fans and marketing agencies of every other airline making fun of us. So it is inappropriate for an FA to judge an young black female on her qualifications.
About liability, what would have happened patient dies because FA blocked services offered by medical professional because she didn't like the looks. Airline will pay heavily.
That is norm almost all the time, at best they have access to run credit card purchases, there is no way to actually validate so called Doctor's ID. Folks are making up rules to justify the behavior.
Grannies with rolling pins doesn't fit the mold of a normal flight attendant, but we accepted that as a fact even though fans and marketing agencies of every other airline making fun of us. So it is inappropriate for an FA to judge an young black female on her qualifications.
About liability, what would have happened patient dies because FA blocked services offered by medical professional because she didn't like the looks. Airline will pay heavily.
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In the U.S., physicians, other medical professionals, dentists, attorneys, etc., are licensed by the individual states. In California, at least, I know that certified public accountants are issued a wallet card every two years, which shows both status and currency of the license. Seems the same should be done for physicians. That would make it easy for the physician to prove his/her status.
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Seems the same should be done for physicians. That would make it easy for the physician to prove his/her status.
It is not "racist" to take into account skin colour when judging a situation.
For example, if you are on a dark street late at night, and at one end a group of three black youths are walking towards you, and at the other end three white youths are walking towards you, it is clearly sensible to walk towards the white youths since black youths carry out a disproportionally large amount of street crime.
Given that the percentage of young black females qualifying as doctors is considerably lower than the percentage of young white females or males qualifying as doctors, it would seem perfectly reasonable to be sceptical. If, however, the person produced evidence that they really were a doctor, but the airline refused to let them help, that would most certainly be racist.
For example, if you are on a dark street late at night, and at one end a group of three black youths are walking towards you, and at the other end three white youths are walking towards you, it is clearly sensible to walk towards the white youths since black youths carry out a disproportionally large amount of street crime.
Given that the percentage of young black females qualifying as doctors is considerably lower than the percentage of young white females or males qualifying as doctors, it would seem perfectly reasonable to be sceptical. If, however, the person produced evidence that they really were a doctor, but the airline refused to let them help, that would most certainly be racist.
Put out a request for a Doctor many years ago now on a flight to TFS! One duly volunteers his services. Only problem was he was a Doctor in Geology!
What about telling the guy/lady that the airline will check their qualifications, and if they pretended/lied about them they will find themselves in very deep doo-doo?
In my experience, CC are always appreciative of doctors' offers of help. The standard "thank you" on UK airlines seems to be three of those small bottles of bubbly, surreptitiously slipped to you in a plastic bag. They do usually take details, and as already stated, they have access to ground medical advice.
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From a Flight Paramedic
As a long time lurker I've registered solely to speak on this matter. My particular subspecialty is CSAR, and have been a Certified Flight Paramedic in the US for many years. Have provided assistance on more than one flight as I often work out of the country. 2 incidents come to mind:
1st: Page for medical providers, respond with the call button. Am asked for my credentials and proof. After provided locate gentleman who needed assistance while having a heart attack. Individual was a senior cardiologist at a major US University Hospital. After he briefly passed out and I carried him to the galley, and requested additional assistance, several physicians came. All had specialties completely unrelated, when they asked what my specialty was I stated emergency medicine. The cardiologist/patient pulled me close and said "if you tell them you aren't a dr and let them take over I will sue you." Emergency diversion somewhere in the North Atlantic and I won't disclose further for patient confidentiality. US carrier.
2nd: Same call for medical providers, respond with call button as requested. Elderly female with pre-existing cardiac issue. Bottom line nobody told her how to adjust her oxygen for the decreased cabin altitude. After requesting FA to obtain current and expected cabin altitude from the flight deck I ran the calculations and turned her O2 up to accommodate cruise cabin altitude, her symptoms resolved and flight was continued to destination. Oh yeah, they asked for my credentials and proof before I was taken to the patient. ME carrier.
In both cases the airlines "online medical control" was contacted, provided with my thoughts, and concurred.
Please do not take this as anything saying I'm any better than average at what I do. My point is both times I was asked my licensure level and specialty, along with a request for proof. Particularly in the lawsuit happy United States (I'm American) not asking for evidence of actual medical licensure could cause some massive problems, never mind possibly kill someone in need of legitimate emergency care.
Maybe there is something missing but failing to follow instructions (push call button) and taking issue with being asked for proof of being a medical provider does not strike me as racist. But then I'm just a man "of color" if that is how one wants to describe a "minority" such as myself.
1st: Page for medical providers, respond with the call button. Am asked for my credentials and proof. After provided locate gentleman who needed assistance while having a heart attack. Individual was a senior cardiologist at a major US University Hospital. After he briefly passed out and I carried him to the galley, and requested additional assistance, several physicians came. All had specialties completely unrelated, when they asked what my specialty was I stated emergency medicine. The cardiologist/patient pulled me close and said "if you tell them you aren't a dr and let them take over I will sue you." Emergency diversion somewhere in the North Atlantic and I won't disclose further for patient confidentiality. US carrier.
2nd: Same call for medical providers, respond with call button as requested. Elderly female with pre-existing cardiac issue. Bottom line nobody told her how to adjust her oxygen for the decreased cabin altitude. After requesting FA to obtain current and expected cabin altitude from the flight deck I ran the calculations and turned her O2 up to accommodate cruise cabin altitude, her symptoms resolved and flight was continued to destination. Oh yeah, they asked for my credentials and proof before I was taken to the patient. ME carrier.
In both cases the airlines "online medical control" was contacted, provided with my thoughts, and concurred.
Please do not take this as anything saying I'm any better than average at what I do. My point is both times I was asked my licensure level and specialty, along with a request for proof. Particularly in the lawsuit happy United States (I'm American) not asking for evidence of actual medical licensure could cause some massive problems, never mind possibly kill someone in need of legitimate emergency care.
Maybe there is something missing but failing to follow instructions (push call button) and taking issue with being asked for proof of being a medical provider does not strike me as racist. But then I'm just a man "of color" if that is how one wants to describe a "minority" such as myself.
Last edited by desertmedic322; 17th Oct 2016 at 19:44.
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Lessons
The inherent authority of a medical professional in the face of someone needing urgent medical assistance is absolutely enormous. Almost indescribably so.
This hapless FA would have to be so incredibly racist to let that interfere, that frankly she would have been locked up by her teens if it was true.
I think this young doctor needs to consider why she herself was unable to assert her vast natural authority with at least as much vigor as she is complaining about the response of the FA.
This hapless FA would have to be so incredibly racist to let that interfere, that frankly she would have been locked up by her teens if it was true.
I think this young doctor needs to consider why she herself was unable to assert her vast natural authority with at least as much vigor as she is complaining about the response of the FA.
Last edited by pilot9249; 18th Oct 2016 at 05:16.
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I think this young doctor needs to consider why she herself was unable to assert her vast natural authority with at least as much vigor as she is complaining about the response of the FA
Bottom line, the crew is responsible, not whoever said they are a doctor.
Perhaps more carriers could offer something similar to what Lufthansa has established:
The ?Doctor on board? programme - Lufthansa ® United States of America
The ?Doctor on board? programme - Lufthansa ® United States of America
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Come on gentlemen, it's not about being asked for credentials and you full well know it. Sorry to burst your bubble.
She said to me "oh no sweetie put ur hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you" I tried to inform her that I was a physician but I was continually cut off by condescending remarks.
Then overhead they paged "any physician on board please press your button". I stare at her as I go to press my button. She said "oh wow you're an actual physician?" I reply yes. She said "let me see your credentials. What type of Doctor are you? Where do you work? Why were you in Detroit?"
But go on, pretend that this colored woman was offended just for being asked for her credentials.
She said to me "oh no sweetie put ur hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you" I tried to inform her that I was a physician but I was continually cut off by condescending remarks.
Then overhead they paged "any physician on board please press your button". I stare at her as I go to press my button. She said "oh wow you're an actual physician?" I reply yes. She said "let me see your credentials. What type of Doctor are you? Where do you work? Why were you in Detroit?"
But go on, pretend that this colored woman was offended just for being asked for her credentials.
It looks much more like ageism to me. A late middle aged woman calls a child "Sweetie ", not an adult.
I don't dispute either that racism exists or that Dr Cross is black. But there's nothing in the terminology described that sounds particular racist?
I don't dispute either that racism exists or that Dr Cross is black. But there's nothing in the terminology described that sounds particular racist?