Flight attendant to black female doctor: ‘We’re looking for actual physicians’ - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Tamika Cross, a physician, was midway through a flight from Detroit to Minneapolis when a passenger emergency sent her into “doctor mode.”Sometime after takeoff, a man two rows in front of her suddenly became unresponsive, she said, and flight attendants called for help. Cross, an obstetrician and gynecologist, said she immediately flagged down one of the crew members, offering to treat the man. She got a response she wasn’t prepared for. “Oh no, sweetie, put [your] hand down,” Cross recalled the flight attendant saying. “We are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don’t have time to talk to you.” The reason behind the flight attendant’s apparent skepticism? Cross says it was because she is black.[/QUOTE] Source: [URL]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/10/14/blatant-discrimination-black-female-doctor-says-flight-crew-questioned-her-credentials-during-medical-emergency/?postshare=6231476454941329&tid=ss_tw[/URL] Good job Delta flight attendant.

My hand went through my face from my facepalm of this. Also shes a bit pretty.

that is actually endangering someone's life. if someone is potentially dying and you are preventing someone who knows exactly how to examine signs of life, you're actually causing harm. imo this should be a suspension or even criminal if it's proven she distinctly said she was a doctor.

I assisted a passenger on a flight once after they called for medical personnel. Some lady was dizzy and losing consciousness, we gave her oxygen and did an emergency landing while I was sitting with the patient in the middle of the passageway. They gave me cookies and snacks for it.

in my criticism of her, she should have been more assertive. but really that flight attendant was pathetic.

Ah yes that would be the first thing on my mind when I'm unresponsive, the creditials of who is willing to help me. Good looking out attendant I bet the man and his wife really appreciated the screening process.

This is unrelated to this specific case, but I think it'd be a good idea to have doctors employed on flights, much like the air marshals. It sounds like there could be liability issues if the flight staff lets anyone who claims to be a doctor make decisions.

[QUOTE=AK'z;51203658]in my criticism of her, she should have been more assertive. but really that flight attendant was pathetic.[/QUOTE] Read the article [quote][b]“I tried to inform her that I was a physician but I was continually cut off by condescending remarks,” Cross said.[/b] The crew then said for any physicians on board to press their call buttons, according to Cross. She elaborated: I stare at her as I go to press my button. She said “[B]oh wow you’re an actual physician?” I reply yes. She said “let me see your credentials. [/B] What type of Doctor are you? Where do you work? Why were you in Detroit?” (Please remember this man is still in need of help and she is blocking my row from even standing up while Bombarding me with questions). I respond “OBGYN, work in Houston, in Detroit for a wedding, but believe it or not they DO HAVE doctors in Detroit. Now excuse me so I can help the man in need”.[/quote]

I assume OB/GYN doctors are still fully trained for life saving... Why did that flight attendant assume otherwise?

[QUOTE=Paramud;51203700]This is unrelated to this specific case, but I think it'd be a good idea to have doctors employed on flights, much like the air marshals. It sounds like there could be liability issues if the flight staff lets anyone who claims to be a doctor make decisions.[/QUOTE] That would be too expensive, also Doctors would be over qualified and underutilized for that task. Best option IMO would be to have all flight staff BLS trained and as first responders.

[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;51203739]That would be too expensive, also Doctors would be over qualified and underutilized for that task. Best option IMO would be to have all flight staff BLS trained and as first responders.[/QUOTE] That's exactly what flight attendants are for, they all have first-aid training. They only call for a doctor in the passenger cabin when they actually need one.

Holy shit how dense can you be? I don't think I could have kept my cool in a situation where i was being prevented from helping a person in need due to someone's disgusting prejudices.

[QUOTE=DiBBs27;51203721]I assume OB/GYN doctors are still fully trained for life saving... Why did that flight attendant assume otherwise?[/QUOTE] Because apparently Detroit doesn't have "real" doctors. And yes, even specialist doctors have to know how to do basic lifesaving, its kinda important in case shit goes sideways during a procedure.

[QUOTE=DiBBs27;51203721]I assume OB/GYN doctors are still fully trained for life saving...[/QUOTE] I don't know how skilled OB/GYNs generally are in first aid, but the issue here doesn't seem to be her specialization. I doubt the flight attendant would request the credentials of a white physician. Or ask them why they were in Detroit. Anyway, if you are the only doctor on the plane, it doesn't matter what you're specialized in.

[QUOTE=phaedon;51203791]I don't know how skilled OB/GYNs generally are in first aid, but the issue here doesn't seem to be her specialization. [/QUOTE] Are you really implying a doctor, any doctor, wouldn't know first aid?

[QUOTE=Sleepy Head;51203716]Read the article[/QUOTE] she says she put her hand up and waited for attention.

[QUOTE=Cructo;51203723]because she's racist?[/QUOTE] There could be other reasons. I'm sure the people who work for Delta are aware of the existence of black medical professionals. I mean the flight attendant allegedly said "sweetie", maybe she just thought she looked too young to be a doctor or something. In the end passenger safety is their responsibility, maybe the flight attendant wanted to be sure she was getting someone with experience. Or it could be racism of course. But it's not necessarily true just because the facebook poster thinks so.

[QUOTE=phaedon;51203791]I don't know how skilled OB/GYNs generally are in first aid[/QUOTE] seriously...

[QUOTE=Crimor;51203858]Are you really implying a doctor, any doctor, wouldn't know first aid?[/QUOTE] No? I said that I don't know how skilled they are (they would obviously be way less skilled and have more limited capabilities than an emergency physician or some related specialization), but remarked that her specialization wasn't the issue here. The flight attendant questioned her credentials because of her race.

[QUOTE=Zestence;51203885]There could be other reasons. I'm sure the people who work for Delta are aware of the existence of black medical professionals. I mean the flight attendant allegedly said "sweetie", maybe she just thought she looked too young to be a doctor or something. In the end passenger safety is their responsibility, maybe the flight attendant wanted to be sure she was getting someone with experience. Or it could be racism of course. But it's not necessarily true even though the facebook poster thinks so.[/QUOTE] Delta put out a statement that directly contradicts what Tamika said: [url]http://news.delta.com/message-about-allegations-discrimination-recent-delta-flight[/url] Delta says that all people claiming to be a doctor are asked to provide proof, and that the person who was accepted for assistance was the only person who did. Tamika claims that the attendant was extremely condescending and racist towards her and when a white male offered to help, there was no questions asked. At this point it's just down to proving which side of the story is true because depending on which side of the story is true this should either be a discrimination suit or a libel suit, probably. I have to say though, demanding proof of being a doctor on an airline flight sounds like maybe a bad idea in an emergency??

The flight attendant's attitude was kinda gross but assuming it's racism is, in my opinion, jumping the gun.

[QUOTE=Elspin;51203927]Delta put out a statement that directly contradicts what Tamika said: [url]http://news.delta.com/message-about-allegations-discrimination-recent-delta-flight[/url] Delta says that all people claiming to be a doctor are asked to provide proof, and that the person who was accepted for assistance was the only person who did. Tamika claims that the attendant was extremely condescending and racist towards her and when a white male offered to help, there was no questions asked. At this point it's just down to proving which side of the story is true because depending on which side of the story is true this should either be a discrimination suit or a libel suit, probably. I have to say though, demanding proof of being a doctor on an airline flight sounds like maybe a bad idea in an emergency??[/QUOTE] They've probably been sued multiple times because a flight attendant let someone who wasn't actually a physician provide emergency help, and said fake doctor made things significantly worse.

[QUOTE=AK'z;51203872]she says she put her hand up and waited for attention.[/QUOTE] Seriously? You are why the bad reading rating needs to come back.

I don't know why anyone's shocked Being a terrible person is a requirement on the job application for Delta. She's probably in the talks for a promotion

[QUOTE=geel9;51203957]They've probably been sued multiple times because a flight attendant let someone who wasn't actually a physician provide emergency help, and said fake doctor made things significantly worse.[/QUOTE] Could not find any evidence of this happening, maybe because of the policy, maybe not. Either way they say in the posting that they suggest employees use best judgement if they're not able to obtain credentials so clearly they're not wholly opposed to someone without proof helping if it needs to be done. Either way I doubt many people are jumping to pretend they're doctors in a legitimate emergency?

[QUOTE=phaedon;51203791]I don't know how skilled OB/GYNs generally are in first aid, but the issue here doesn't seem to be her specialization. I doubt the flight attendant would request the credentials of a white physician. Or ask them why they were in Detroit. Anyway, if you are the only doctor on the plane, it doesn't matter what you're specialized in.[/QUOTE] All doctors have gone through medical school, and while not everyone is an anaesthetist or emergency medicine doctor, all of them will have, in their foundation years and med student years, been placed in critical care medicine and emergency medicine, before specialisation. They'll be basically aware of how to keep someone alive, at the very least, and of course BLS training is mandated. Any doubts and they can usually get through to another physician on the ground who they can talk to. Basically, any doctor on a plane will do, yes, even a diagnostic radiologist. (love you guys really)

my bullshit alarm is ringing for some reason when i read just the blurb it sounded believable, but the story in whole as told by Tamika sounds suspiciously exaggerated for dramatic effect. Delta claims [B]three[/B] medical professionals made themselves known and only one of them had documentation, and that is the doctor who was allowed to assist. Waiting to see how this develops, racial discrimination is a hot button topic guaranteed to go viral in recent times.

[QUOTE=JaegerMonster;51204075]my bullshit alarm is ringing for some reason when i read just the blurb it sounded believable, but the story in whole as told by Tamika sounds suspiciously exaggerated for dramatic effect. Delta claims [B]three[/B] medical professionals made themselves known and only one of them had documentation, and that is the doctor who was allowed to assist. Waiting to see how this develops, racial discrimination is a hot button topic guaranteed to go viral in recent times.[/QUOTE] same. This story sounds so fucking retarded that it's gotta be either excessively exaggerated or plain old made up. Also cabin crew receives training for this, there is a procedure.

50 bucks says the other physician showed their documentation to another attendant, and that this story is entirely bullshit.

[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;51203639]I assisted a passenger on a flight once after they called for medical personnel. Some lady was dizzy and losing consciousness, we gave her oxygen and did an emergency landing while I was sitting with the patient in the middle of the passageway. They gave me cookies and snacks for it.[/QUOTE] The irony there is that administratively speaking you are completely unqualified, as corpsman do not receive any sort of EMT qualification out of A school unlike Airforce and Army medic schools which receive I or higher qualification. Technically speaking, had that person somehow died under your care, without any real recognized quals you'd have been held responsible for his death and maybe even charged for it. To civies, "dont worry ma'm imma corpsman" sounds impressive but to the law you're not qualified to do shit. Which is unfortunate, because whilst I wouldn't trust boot Docs to take urine samples, there are is a lengthy list of IDCs I know who I'd happily trust with my life but get fucked on any real world qualifications because reasons.