In the midst of a flight, we all hope for a medical professional’s presence during emergencies—after all, their expertise can be life-saving. But what happens when that critical help is denied? This situation unfolded recently on a Delta flight from Detroit to Minneapolis, where Dr. Jasmine Lee, a resident OB/GYN from Houston, found herself trying to assist a passenger in distress.
As a woman seated a few rows ahead began to scream for help regarding her unresponsive husband, Dr. Lee instinctively shifted into “doctor mode.” She unfastened her seatbelt, prepared to rise, only to be halted by a flight attendant’s calm yet dismissive announcement that the man was merely experiencing a “night terror.” Trusting her medical instincts, Dr. Lee decided to observe the situation for a moment longer, knowing that medical emergencies can escalate quickly.
Moments later, the man became unresponsive again. The flight attendant then called for any doctors on board. Dr. Lee raised her hand, only to be met with disbelief. “Oh no, sweetie, put your hand down. We need actual physicians or nurses; we don’t have time to talk to you,” the attendant told her, effectively dismissing her expertise.
Despite her attempts to clarify her status as a doctor, Dr. Lee was interrupted and asked to press the overhead button when the announcement was made again. When she did so, the same flight attendant asked, “Oh wow, you’re an actual physician?” To which Dr. Lee confirmed, “Yes.” The attendant then proceeded to barrage her with questions about her credentials, asking where she worked and why she was in Detroit—all while a medical emergency unfolded.
In a troubling turn of events, another physician on board, a white male, approached and announced his qualifications. The attendant immediately acknowledged him, ignoring Dr. Lee’s credentials, which she had yet to verify. Thankfully, the patient began to respond to questions and showed signs of improvement. Ironically, after several minutes, the flight attendant sought Dr. Lee’s input on how to proceed.
Despite the frustration of being initially disregarded, Dr. Lee set aside her feelings and assisted in monitoring the patient. The attendant later apologized multiple times and offered SkyMiles as compensation for her oversight. Dr. Lee declined, emphasizing that she didn’t want rewards in exchange for what she perceived as blatant discrimination. She asserted, “Whether this was race, age, or gender discrimination, it’s not right. She will not get away with this.”
This incident highlights the critical need for recognizing and respecting medical professionals, regardless of their appearance or background. To read more about the significance of support for medical professionals during emergencies, check out this insightful post on Cervical Insemination.
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In summary, the situation aboard the flight underscores the importance of acknowledging all medical professionals. Discrimination in any form is unacceptable, particularly in urgent circumstances.
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