Last time I recall flying Spirit (which was many years ago) at the end of the flight, the attendant gave the whole speech about "thank you for flying Spirit Airlines, America's premiere budget airline" or whatever it is they say.
From the back of the plane I hear a voice call out "...you charged me for water!"
Anyone who thinks doctors don't fly Spirit, but can explain why they haven't updated any of the magazines in the waiting room in twenty years, please speak up.
Because they don't have to read the magazines in the waiting room? They would have to suffer through a shitty flight though. They spend money on things that affect them personally, I feel like it's not that hard to understand.
Most doctors won't admit to being a doctor in such circumstances anyway. If they do, they become responsible for the patient for the duration of the trip, and they don't get paid. They may have to make a call whether to emergency land early (pissing off everyone on the plane any delaying their own plans) or risking the life of the patient. It's a no win situation.
"But you don't get paid! Why would you do something if you don't get paid for it!"
The brain of an American seems to be fundamentally broken at this point
On call is not really what we discuss here, emergency may require a trained person to at least identify as one and try helping. Of course it depends on the legislation
Weve got a bootstraps mentality in the US. Its not worth helping others because 1. No one would help you and 2. Because youre putting yourself at risk by trying to be a good samaritan.
I've heard many will not jump at it and hope someone else does. But I think most will at least eye the situation and see if they really urgently need medical attention, then sigh deeply and do it anyway if so.
I really hope most doctors will save someone's life even if they don't get paid for it. But who knows? Maybe my faith in humanity is still higher than it should be.
It's not really about being paid, it's about being covered by malpractice insurance which typically only happens for paid services. Yes people or people's families regularly sue doctors when treatment is unsuccessful. Some jurisdictions don't allow this, but often while non doctors cannot be sued because of these 'Good Samaritan' laws, doctors can still be. And when you're in the air, it's not always clear what jurisdiction you are in.
If malpractice insurance doesnât apply because you are not practicing, wouldnât Good Samaritan kick in cause youâre just a member of the public during the situation?
The US is incredibly lawsuit-heavy. You can't even just go and explain your side of the story because the victim will bring the biggest, baddest ambulance chaser they can find.
Not all states apply good samarintan clauses the same, some only apply to civil liability which gets messy.
The Hippocratic oath would be enough for most to do it anyway if no one steps up, but i understand the not wanting to part because they are not universally protected.
In Canada all provinces have some form of Good Samaritan law which means that you aren't responsible other than gross negligence. So any off-duty doctor would be very safe to help out unless they were doing something very stupid.
If a doctor has to defend themselves in court they have to pay a lawyer, spend a bunch of time on it and it's a huge stressor. Much easier to just stay quiet. Almost all doctors would step in and save a live if there was something specific that they needed to be done. But in an airplane, there's barely any equipment - all of the stewards are going to be trained in first aid and cpr, so are likely better able to manage anything that can be done. The only reason they ask for a doctor is because it's a trope that people expect (so people would be upset if they didn't, and so didn't appear to be doing all they could), and to share the responsibility.
Of course, but because the law is so protective you won't need to 99.9% of the time. Canada also isn't a very litigious place and even if it does get raised it will probably get thrown out quickly. To most doctors it is also a huge stressors to watch someone that they can help die. So overall the balance is well worth trying to help out.
I spend my day around doctors. They take their Hippocratic oath very seriously, and this comment in no way exemplifies most of the practitioner behavior I observe on a daily basis.
The insurance companies and for-profit hospital administrators on the other hand...
If they are asking it is explicitly because it's beyond basic first aid and they're scared. The plane is landing either way, if they are already asking for a doctor, then the decision was already made by the pilots. Afterwards it's a matter of providing proper care until delivered to a emergency services at the airport. All doctors I know will absolutely respond to such a call on a plane, but medical assistance doesn't always include touching or doing something to the patient. Often, it's just looking at them or talking to them (if they're conscious) and advising the flight crew on what the proper care should be like. Ultimately, doctors are useless without proper infrastructure and resources. A surgeon without a hospital is as helpless as the patient and no first aid carries a pharmacy.
as a surgical specialist i am very not qualified to treat heart attacks (which other than chewing an aspirin and breathing oxygen requires a massive cath lab and an interventional cardiologist or a cardiac surgeon with a special OR including a cardiopulmonary bypass pump and a perfusionist; my current decent size hospital on the ground has neither of these) and barely more useful than a medical student at 99% of various medical problems a normal person may have. without a knife, anesthesia, and millions of dollars of equipment i'd just be asking chat gpt how to do breathing exercises with an elderly person having a panic attack
I have 3 close friends who are doctors, I have zero doubt they would jump to help in an emergency (I've seen them all do it at various times, though not on planes).
As usual Lemmy downvoting things they don't agree with, even if it's true.
I was with a physician friend on the Las Vegas strip as a guy went down with a heart attack. I'm like, this is your moment! Go save them! And she grabs my arm and yanks me into a doorway so I can't make a commotion, explains that no doctor will simply do that, it means they're on the hook for it, when an EMT is just minutes away and is properly prepared to handle it. She said if doctors didn't obey this unwritten rule, they'd constantly be giving out care to random people, possibly without admitting privileges in nearby hospitals, taking on liability they're not insured for (being outside of a hospital), etc.
I don't think that a plane in flight is likely to have good EMT coverage.
There's a significant difference between "we're in an easily reachable party of a major city and I can expect a fully equipped ambulance to be here in minutes" and "we're in mid-air and even if we make an emergency landing the patient won't receive medical care for another hour unless I provide it".
by performing any medical intervention you are responsible for the care of the individual. this includes if you aren't even a doctor and are simply first aid certified.
don't blame the doctors, blame the politicians and lawyers who made the laws.
In Nevada, it wouldn't surprise me. The US is indeed filled with assholes.^1^ Most of the world though, has good Samaritan laws and you won't face criminal charges if you were actively trying to save a life outside of extremely gross negligence. Many places of the world also have strong first aid certification programs that further protect those certified as long as they followed the standard protocol.
78 Comments
Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 106 pts · 124d
DaddleDew@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 124d
Or Conan O'Brien's Dr. Arroyo
usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca · 72 pts · 124d
Doctor in board: "Help, I'm trapped in a board! Is there a carpenter on the flight??"
tetris11@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 123d
Carp Enters: "Help, I cant breathe! Is there a fish tank salesman on the flight?"
massacre@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 123d
TBF attendants on Spirit likely know it's the end of the road for their career and they don't GAF.
FrChazzz@lemmus.org · 70 pts · 124d
Last time I recall flying Spirit (which was many years ago) at the end of the flight, the attendant gave the whole speech about "thank you for flying Spirit Airlines, America's premiere budget airline" or whatever it is they say.
From the back of the plane I hear a voice call out "...you charged me for water!"
Alandrus_Sun@ttrpg.network · 62 pts · 124d
I remember an attendant once said "And to those who said they'd 'never fly with us again': Welcome back! " đđđ
postmateDumbass@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 124d
Realistically, you might get an EMT?
modus@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 124d
Or maybe a doctor of literature.
BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 123d
I'm a PhD but how can I help?.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 124d
iatenine@piefed.social · 5 pts · 124d
I mean... It's right in the name...
M137@lemmy.today · 16 pts · 124d
"in board"
Words hard, apparently.
Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 124d
Employees who speak pretty cost extra. Forgoing those is just one of the many revolutionary cost cutting innovations of Spirit.
Janx@piefed.social · 15 pts · 124d
I bet you'd find Dr. Spaceman there.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 124d
Anyone who thinks doctors don't fly Spirit, but can explain why they haven't updated any of the magazines in the waiting room in twenty years, please speak up.
emeralddawn45@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 15 pts · 124d
Because they don't have to read the magazines in the waiting room? They would have to suffer through a shitty flight though. They spend money on things that affect them personally, I feel like it's not that hard to understand.
how_we_burned@lemmy.zip · 11 pts · 124d
Who the fuck reads magazines in a waiting room when you have the entire internet in that small device in your hand
Shit I have a huge library of books I've pirated (I've already got them in hardcover at home) that I read.
tetris11@feddit.uk · 0 pts · 123d
medical equipment can block the 5g.
That's when you play the staring game
explodicle@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 124d
You're the only one who hasn't just been using your phone in waiting rooms for 20 years.
ShyFae@piefed.blahaj.zone · 11 pts · 124d
Listen,
I once did a round trip between O'hare and Austin for less than $99 in total.
It was my goto. And if I still lived in the states I'd still be using it.
Pacattack57@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 124d
Poem_for_your_sprog@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 124d
There's no doctors inboard, but how about outboard?
JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 124d
Doctor overboard!
postmateDumbass@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d
Dr Pinoccio Aboard
Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 123d
Spirit Airlines letting your spirit fly because you died in flight.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 5 pts · 123d
its the flight to leave your mortal coil.
JuliaSuraez@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 124d
Spirit really said âweâll get you there⌠hopefullyâ đ
JasonDJ@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 124d
D.Litt stands up...
kerrigan778@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 124d
Never met an intern?
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · -58 pts · 124d
Most doctors won't admit to being a doctor in such circumstances anyway. If they do, they become responsible for the patient for the duration of the trip, and they don't get paid. They may have to make a call whether to emergency land early (pissing off everyone on the plane any delaying their own plans) or risking the life of the patient. It's a no win situation.
makeshiftreaper@lemmy.world · 102 pts · 124d
No win, you know... except potentially saving another human's life
zaphod@sopuli.xyz · 56 pts · 124d
Pretty sure it would be illegal to not help in quite a lot of countries, especially as a doctor. Apparently USA is not one of those countries.
Nalivai@lemmy.world · 72 pts · 124d
"But you don't get paid! Why would you do something if you don't get paid for it!"
The brain of an American seems to be fundamentally broken at this point
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 124d
All they have to do is have a glass or two of wine and say they're not able to act in a professional capacity.
Brummbaer@pawb.social · 13 pts · 124d
Unless you are incapacitated you need to help and two glasses of wine don't count here. But again this is valid for "normal" countries.
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d
2 glasses is over the limit for doctors. When on call you can't drink even one.
sukhmel@programming.dev · 13 pts · 124d
On call is not really what we discuss here, emergency may require a trained person to at least identify as one and try helping. Of course it depends on the legislation
funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 124d
"is there a doctor on the flight?"
"yes! two glasses of picpoul de Pinet please"
Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 124d
Do they serve wine on Spirit Airlines?
Scubus@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 124d
Weve got a bootstraps mentality in the US. Its not worth helping others because 1. No one would help you and 2. Because youre putting yourself at risk by trying to be a good samaritan.
Telodzrum@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d
bdonvr@thelemmy.club · 37 pts · 124d
I've heard many will not jump at it and hope someone else does. But I think most will at least eye the situation and see if they really urgently need medical attention, then sigh deeply and do it anyway if so.
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 27 pts · 124d
I really hope most doctors will save someone's life even if they don't get paid for it. But who knows? Maybe my faith in humanity is still higher than it should be.
JasonDJ@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 124d
It's the same interpretation of "do no harm" that abstaining US voters used in 2024.
Can't do harm if you first don't "do".
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 124d
It's not really about being paid, it's about being covered by malpractice insurance which typically only happens for paid services. Yes people or people's families regularly sue doctors when treatment is unsuccessful. Some jurisdictions don't allow this, but often while non doctors cannot be sued because of these 'Good Samaritan' laws, doctors can still be. And when you're in the air, it's not always clear what jurisdiction you are in.
BigDiction@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 124d
Seems like a contradictory explanation.
If malpractice insurance doesnât apply because you are not practicing, wouldnât Good Samaritan kick in cause youâre just a member of the public during the situation?
rumba@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 124d
The US is incredibly lawsuit-heavy. You can't even just go and explain your side of the story because the victim will bring the biggest, baddest ambulance chaser they can find.
Not all states apply good samarintan clauses the same, some only apply to civil liability which gets messy.
The Hippocratic oath would be enough for most to do it anyway if no one steps up, but i understand the not wanting to part because they are not universally protected.
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d
It is worth it to a doctor to throw away their career and life savings to find out?
kevincox@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 124d
In Canada all provinces have some form of Good Samaritan law which means that you aren't responsible other than gross negligence. So any off-duty doctor would be very safe to help out unless they were doing something very stupid.
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 124d
But who defines 'very stupid'. The loved ones of the person who dies because the doctor didn't recommend an emergency stop?
kevincox@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 124d
Of course it can only surely be decided in a court. But in this case it would be something like was not actively trying to cause harm.
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 123d
If a doctor has to defend themselves in court they have to pay a lawyer, spend a bunch of time on it and it's a huge stressor. Much easier to just stay quiet. Almost all doctors would step in and save a live if there was something specific that they needed to be done. But in an airplane, there's barely any equipment - all of the stewards are going to be trained in first aid and cpr, so are likely better able to manage anything that can be done. The only reason they ask for a doctor is because it's a trope that people expect (so people would be upset if they didn't, and so didn't appear to be doing all they could), and to share the responsibility.
kevincox@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 123d
Of course, but because the law is so protective you won't need to 99.9% of the time. Canada also isn't a very litigious place and even if it does get raised it will probably get thrown out quickly. To most doctors it is also a huge stressors to watch someone that they can help die. So overall the balance is well worth trying to help out.
nonfuinoncuro@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 123d
and for the rest of your life every job and license application require you to explain every lawsuit even if it ends up being settled etc
ieGod@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 124d
This is such an american take.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · -6 pts · 124d
have you met doctors? 4 out of 5 does not know their basic anatomy.
Poem_for_your_sprog@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 124d
The penis is attached to:
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d
whoopsie doodle. nothing now
ArtVandelay@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 124d
I spend my day around doctors. They take their Hippocratic oath very seriously, and this comment in no way exemplifies most of the practitioner behavior I observe on a daily basis.
The insurance companies and for-profit hospital administrators on the other hand...
cymbal_king@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 124d
Not sure if it's still the case, but airlines used to give flight credits to doctors who helped out. Probably not Spirit though...
rumba@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 124d
Doctors can usually afford not to fly the best of the worst.
dustyData@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 124d
If they are asking it is explicitly because it's beyond basic first aid and they're scared. The plane is landing either way, if they are already asking for a doctor, then the decision was already made by the pilots. Afterwards it's a matter of providing proper care until delivered to a emergency services at the airport. All doctors I know will absolutely respond to such a call on a plane, but medical assistance doesn't always include touching or doing something to the patient. Often, it's just looking at them or talking to them (if they're conscious) and advising the flight crew on what the proper care should be like. Ultimately, doctors are useless without proper infrastructure and resources. A surgeon without a hospital is as helpless as the patient and no first aid carries a pharmacy.
nonfuinoncuro@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 123d
as a surgical specialist i am very not qualified to treat heart attacks (which other than chewing an aspirin and breathing oxygen requires a massive cath lab and an interventional cardiologist or a cardiac surgeon with a special OR including a cardiopulmonary bypass pump and a perfusionist; my current decent size hospital on the ground has neither of these) and barely more useful than a medical student at 99% of various medical problems a normal person may have. without a knife, anesthesia, and millions of dollars of equipment i'd just be asking chat gpt how to do breathing exercises with an elderly person having a panic attack
naught101@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 124d
Source?
I have 3 close friends who are doctors, I have zero doubt they would jump to help in an emergency (I've seen them all do it at various times, though not on planes).
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 124d
and clearly by flying spirit they don't make sound life decisions.
however, same can be said for the doctor.... so maybe they will speak up?
Alandrus_Sun@ttrpg.network · 5 pts · 124d
True. We all know the Hippocratic oath. Do no harm (unless it inconveniences a flight of passengers).
FatVegan@leminal.space · 4 pts · 124d
I'm a shitty person, therefore everyone else is.
CannonFodder@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d
Sure, I'm shitty. But I'm not a doctor. I've heard doctors taking about exactly this. And ones not from the U.S.
atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 124d
I donât think you have any idea what you are talking about.
BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 124d
Source: I made it up
turtlesareneat@piefed.ca · -7 pts · 124d
As usual Lemmy downvoting things they don't agree with, even if it's true.
I was with a physician friend on the Las Vegas strip as a guy went down with a heart attack. I'm like, this is your moment! Go save them! And she grabs my arm and yanks me into a doorway so I can't make a commotion, explains that no doctor will simply do that, it means they're on the hook for it, when an EMT is just minutes away and is properly prepared to handle it. She said if doctors didn't obey this unwritten rule, they'd constantly be giving out care to random people, possibly without admitting privileges in nearby hospitals, taking on liability they're not insured for (being outside of a hospital), etc.
So you're completely right.
Jesus_666@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 124d
I don't think that a plane in flight is likely to have good EMT coverage.
There's a significant difference between "we're in an easily reachable party of a major city and I can expect a fully equipped ambulance to be here in minutes" and "we're in mid-air and even if we make an emergency landing the patient won't receive medical care for another hour unless I provide it".
morkyporky@suppo.fi · 7 pts · 124d
You can do CPR without saying you're a doctor which is really all you can do in that situation. So maybe your friend is just a piece of shit?
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 124d
by performing any medical intervention you are responsible for the care of the individual. this includes if you aren't even a doctor and are simply first aid certified.
don't blame the doctors, blame the politicians and lawyers who made the laws.
dustyData@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 124d
In Nevada, it wouldn't surprise me. The US is indeed filled with assholes.^1^ Most of the world though, has good Samaritan laws and you won't face criminal charges if you were actively trying to save a life outside of extremely gross negligence. Many places of the world also have strong first aid certification programs that further protect those certified as long as they followed the standard protocol.^1^: Disregard that comment, Nevada does have Good Samaritan laws, that person's friend is just a piece of shit.
morkyporky@suppo.fi · 1 pts · 124d
That isn't true in the US or Europe so not sure where you're talking about.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d
it was true when I became first response certified a decade ago.
ieGod@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 124d
So your data point of one american speaks for 'most' doctors globally. Sound stats.