As part of their training, flight attendants are prepared for certain medical emergencies. With that, they’re trained in advanced first aid, know CPR and proper use of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator; it’s a portable electronic device that’s used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest [read: their heart stopped]). After their initial training, they’re also required by the FAA to receive recurrent training, including performance drills, in the proper use of AEDs and in CPR, on a regular basis.
Delta flight attendant trainees receiving classroom instruction // PC: Delta Air Lines
That being said, although cabin crew are trained to provide first aid and limited medical assistance, they’re not qualified to deal with all potential medical emergency situations. That’s why, on rare occasions, you’ll hear the in-charge flight attendant go on the PA and ask if there’s a doctor or other qualified medical professional (nurse, EMT, etc.) on board (or sometimes not. Depending on the type of emergency it is, sometimes the flight will just divert and land, so the passenger in distress can get access to appropriate medical attention. That’s what happened on one of our flights a few years ago).
But not long ago, there was a medical emergency onboard a long-haul flight, and the flight attendants asked if there were any medical professionals onboard. A medical doctor was onboard the flight, but he ultimately refused to help the situation. He posted about it on Reddit’s AITA community.
Reddit has over 100,000 active communities, one of which is the aforementioned AITA community. The initials represent the term, “Am I The A-Hole.” The community is defined as, “A catharsis for the frustrated moral philosopher in all of us, and a place to finally find out if you were wrong in an argument that’s been bothering you. Tell us about any non-violent conflict you have experienced; give us both sides of the story, and find out if you’re right, or you’re the a-hole.” It’s kind of like a “jury of your peers” sort of thing.
Here’s his story (the original link is here. Heads up for possible adult language):
AITA for refusing to volunteer as a doctor on a flight?
I’m (M, mid 30s) a medical doctor working as an internal medicine hospitalist at a major hospital. Recently I was on a long haul international flight. Usually I sleep on flights but this was during my waking hours so I decided to spend my time enjoying the inflight entertainment and free drinks. I had already been drinking even before the flight while I was in the lounge. I was not slurring or excessively drunk but I was feeling a strong buzz. Usually I don’t chat with my co-passengers, I just sleep or do my own thing. On this flight the configuration of the business class cabin was such that the passengers in the middle row were practically just beside each other. There was just a small barrier separating me and my co-passenger (F, mid 30s) that could be raised but it still didn’t do much to separate us. She started up a conversation and being a little intoxicated, I was also feeling chatty. When she asked what I do I mentioned I’m a doctor and I work at such and such hospital. After some more small talk we both started doing our own thing.
I was trying to watch my movie and enjoy my drinks when an announcement was made asking if there was a doctor on flight. Normally I would present myself to the cabin crew and help out but after several hours of on flight boozing, I was pretty drunk. I was not able to think clearly and probably would have done more harm than good in such a situation. I didn’t react to the announcement at all. I continued watching my movie and drinking my drink. My co-passenger tapped me and said they just announced they need a doctor. I replied that someone else would help or they would get instructions from the medical team on the ground. She tried convincing me to go help but I refused. She then said I was an unbelievable AH and if the passenger died it was my fault. I said listen lady, just because I’m a doctor doesn’t mean I’m not on call 24/7 to provide medical care on demand. I work when I’m at the hospital, outside I’m just like everyone else and I’m entitled to drink and relax. She had a disgusted look on her face but didn’t talk to me after that. I didn’t want to engage with her either.
I’m not sure what happened to the passenger who needed medical assistance but since I didn’t hear any more announcements I assumed all was well. While exiting the aircraft this lady called me an AH again.
In my mind, I’m very clear that since I was intoxicated I could not provide medical assistance. I was drinking on my own time and there was no expectation that I would need to be sober. Doctors get to enjoy life too, I can’t stay sober on every flight just in case there’s an emergency. I don’t think AITA, but I thought I’d get external opinions. AITA?
Most of the responses were roughly the same: he was NTA (Not The A-Hole), under the stated circumstances, to no help with the medical emergency. But he was a little bit of an A-Hole for his response to the person sitting next to him; he should have told her why he didn’t feel comfortable or safe helping, instead of suggesting he had the right to drink and relax when he’s off duty. Here’s what a bunch of people said (posts only edited for clarity, brevity and adult language):
- NTA for making a good decision. YTA for your unnecessarily rude attitude. A simple “I’m too drunk” would have sufficed. — sanguinepsychologist
- NTA The crew would not have used you in your capacity as a dr as you were intoxicated. By law they cannot as you are well aware. They would’ve gotten assistance from another sober dr on board and the ground medical team. Your fellow passenger is TA for saying those things to you. Hopefully after the flight she learnt that couldn’t have helped because you were drinking. — Affectionate_Face_71
- NTA but I could see why she’d think so. You were abosolutley right for not responding to the call as you were impaired, but why wouldn’t you explain this to the woman? As far as she could tell from your response, you were just being apathetic and hoping someone else would handle it. — lessthandave89
- NTA – but you did yourself no favours by not just explaining why you couldn’t provide assistance; there’s a big difference between “I’ve been drinking and might do more harm than good”, and “I’m a doctor but I’m entitled to not help because I’m off the clock”.. — AmateurExpert__
- NTA for not volunteering as you had been drinking. YTA for your little rant however. You could have just said it’s not ethical because you’ve consumed too much alcohol. — Lia_Delphine
Our take on it
The guy 100% did the right thing if he was drunk and not in the best state of mind. It was the smart, responsible thing to do.
The same can be said for several professions. Case in point, I have a friend who’s a pharmacist, and if she’s not at work and someone finds out what she does for a living, they invariably ask her questions about medications. She says she has a “2 drink rule”; if she’s had more than 2 drinks, she won’t answer. It’s just too dangerous.
The same goes for pilots (FAA regulations require that airline pilots not consume any alcoholic beverages within 8 hours of a scheduled flight [sometimes called “Bottle to Throttle”]. Some airlines have even more stringent requirements and require no alcohol within 12 hours of flying). And I bet you can think of many other professions where you wouldn’t want them working on a potentially life-saving procedure if they were drunk.
However, his response to the woman next to him definitely should have been more to the point.
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