Imagine being on a flight, and you hear someone shouting for help. You hope a medical professional is on board, but what if that person is prevented from stepping in? That’s exactly what happened on a Delta flight from Detroit to Minneapolis.
Dr. Angela Simmons, a resident OB/GYN from Houston, was traveling when a woman a couple of rows ahead began screaming that her husband was unresponsive. In true doctor fashion, Simmons sprang into action, or at least she tried to, but a flight attendant had other ideas.
As Simmons unbuckled her seatbelt, preparing to help, the flight attendant assured everyone it was just a “night terror.” But Simmons, with her medical instincts kicking in, decided to keep an eye on the situation. A few moments later, the man was unresponsive again. The flight attendant then made an announcement asking if any doctors were on board. Simmons raised her hand to volunteer.
“Oh no, sweetie, put your hand down. We’re looking for actual physicians or nurses. We don’t have time to talk to you,” the flight attendant replied, according to Simmons’ viral Facebook post. Simmons attempted to explain her credentials but was repeatedly cut off.
When the flight attendants made another announcement asking for physicians to press their overhead button, Simmons did just that, still under the flight attendant’s skeptical gaze. “Oh wow, you’re an actual physician?” the flight attendant finally said, to which Simmons replied, “Yes.” The questions continued: “Let me see your credentials. What type of doctor are you? Where do you work? Why were you in Detroit?” Really? This was not the moment for a third-degree interrogation—there was a life at stake!
Another doctor, a white male, approached and introduced himself as a physician. The flight attendant dismissed Simmons and said, “He has his credentials.” Not cool. Simmons noted that this other doctor hadn’t shown any documentation, just fit the “doctor profile.”
Fortunately, the patient began responding to questions, and Simmons found herself guiding the flight attendant through the monitoring process—because that’s what medical professionals do, even when faced with blatant discrimination. The flight attendant later apologized multiple times and even offered Simmons SkyMiles, which she flatly refused, stating, “I don’t want SkyMiles in exchange for blatant discrimination.”
Simmons concluded that whether it was due to race, age, or gender, the treatment she received was unacceptable. She was determined to make her voice heard.
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Summary
In a recent incident on a Delta flight, Dr. Angela Simmons, an OB/GYN, faced discrimination from a flight attendant while trying to assist an unresponsive passenger. Despite her qualifications, the attendant refused to acknowledge her as a doctor, highlighting the need for better awareness and respect for all medical professionals. The situation eventually improved, but it raises important questions about discrimination in emergency situations.