To my untutored ear it sound as if ATC were not too helpful.
I disagree, it was a routine conversation, pilot asked for lower altitude because he said something was wrong, I don't recall exact words. He did not declare emergency or anything like that, controller can't read pilot's mind. In absence of clear-cut emergency controller had to coordinate with other traffic to let him descend. By the way, he had right to make emergency descend without even asking anybody for permission if he felt he was in dire situation.