Credits: Social Media
Doctor admits he refused to help flight passenger in a medical emergency for one reason
A doctor took to his personal social media to share his reasonings for refusing to help in a medical emergency while on a flight.
The doctor explained that he had been flying recently when a flight attendant called out for a doctor. His decision not to respond and then flat-out refuse to help was criticized by fellow passengers, he said.
In his post shared on December 21, the doctor described exactly why he decided to refuse to help and asked for the opinions of others on the situation.
The doctors reasoning for refusing to help
Sharing to Reddit, the doctor explained that he is a medical doctor working as an internet medicine hospitalist. He admitted that he began drinking while waiting in the airport lounge and then continued while on board the flight. I was not slurring or excessively drunk, but I was feeling a strong buzz, he wrote.
The doctor explained that usually, he chooses not to chat with fellow passengers, but the seating of this flight meant he was practically sitting next to his seatmate.
She started up a conversation and being a little intoxicated, I was also feeling chatty. When she asked what I do I mentioned Im a doctor and I work at such and such hospital. After some more small talk we both started doing our own thing, reads the post.
Soon enough, the doctor heard an announcement asking if there was a doctor on the flight – but he chose to ignore it. 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, he wrote.
His fellow passenger wasnt happy
The doctors fellow passenger, knowing that he was a doctor, tapped him and told him about the announcement.
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, explained the doctor. This was met with disapproval by the passenger, who told him that should the patient die on board, it would be his fault.
I said Listen lady, just because Im a doctor doesnt mean Im not on call 24/7 to provide medical care on demand. I work when Im at the hospital, outside Im just like everyone else and Im entitled to drink and relax. She had a disgusted look on her face but didnt talk to me after that. I didnt want to engage with her either, he continued.
The doctor explained that he wasnt aware of what happened with the sick passenger but no further announcements were made on board. His fellow passenger however once more called him an a**hole while leaving the aircraft.
Reactions were split over his decision mid-flight
Despite many agreeing with the doctors decision not to help due to his inebriation, they also criticized his delivery to the fellow passenger. Many cited that they too would be confused and offended by his refusal, considering he didnt explain exactly why.
You are not the a**hole for not volunteering after you’d been drinking. But why did you not just tell your co-passenger that? The way you describe it you have appeared to just not want to help, and that comes across as really cold and callous. In her situation, I would have thought you a huge AH, and you really did nothing to let her know you weren’t, wrote one Reddit user.
Not the a**hole, but I could see why shed think so, agreed another. You were absolutely 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.
You did yourself no favors by not just explaining why you couldnt provide assistance, reasoned another user. Theres a big difference between Ive been drinking and might do more harm than good, and Im a doctor but Im entitled to not help because Im off the clock.
