Woman 'allowed to die' on flight

[Justinf]

A DISTRAUGHT family has revealed shocking details of their mother's death on an Emirates flight, claiming the crew did nothing to save her.

Emirates airline sued over Carol Wilson's death | Herald Sun

Interesting and tragic event. I find this incredibly difficult to believe word-for-word. I cannot for the life of me believe that the aircraft would have been emptied before paramedics were allowed on to assist the woman.

Thoughts?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Perhaps the crew thought she was already gone?

 

[anat0l]

Perhaps the crew thought she was already gone?

Unless it was redacted from the article or not mentioned by the journalist, there is no mention that the crew checked her vital signs before assuming she was beyond recovery.

In any case, is it even proper to do such a thing (i.e. assume or "presume" someone is dead, therefore do nothing). I guess there's also the liability thing - i.e. touch someone, possibly stuff up (or this doesn't even have to happen), then get sued - the alternative seemed to result in nearly the same thing.

That's a lot of things to go wrong just for one set of crew for one incident. I'd like to hear EK's side of the story on this.

 

[drron]

The incident happened in April 2010.This is a press release from the families lawyer in Houston.So probably not an unbiased account.
I wonder why news.com have picked it up and copied it from US papers.Of course it is running on Fox news in the USA-another news company.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's a lot of things to go wrong just for one set of crew for one incident. I'd like to hear EK's side of the story on this.

+1, I would be astonished that any cabin crew would decide that someone was dead following a ( presumed) cardiac arrest in an aircraft toilet. IMHO the recollections of distressed relatives following the death of a loved one can be very different from that of the personnel ( medical or otherwise ) involved in their care. If however the events as depicted are found to be accurate EK have some serious training to do.
I am hoping that this is another "no news" story the alternative is too horrible to contemplate

 

[munitalP]

Im hoping this is a very biased story as well, but I am sure they wouldn't publish claims such as the defrib wasn't bought out of hiding, and the crew did nothing to help...

I would like to think that the crews would have a form of professional indemnity when in the air and if trying to save someone's life fails, they are free of fault.

Another in a long list of my reasons not to fly the friendly skies with our Arab friends...

 

[BAM1748]

Another in a long list of my reasons not to fly the friendly skies with our Arab friends...

I'm with you on that one.Values differ around the world.

 

[drron]

+1, I would be astonished that any cabin crew would decide that someone was dead following a ( presumed) cardiac arrest in an aircraft toilet. IMHO the recollections of distressed relatives following the death of a loved one can be very different from that of the personnel ( medical or otherwise ) involved in their care. If however the events as depicted are found to be accurate EK have some serious training to do.
I am hoping that this is another "no news" story the alternative is too horrible to contemplate

The Fox news report said the flight was in April 2010.A search of Texas and Houston newspapers etc for that month has nothing about the incident.Methinks if it really was as reported there would have been something.Nor is it in any of the sites that report airline incidents.

 

[pshepvic]

As soon as I see any mention of "Fox News" near an article, I tune out. It makes the E! Channel look like proper news! After all, they were the ones who couldn't find Egypt on a map...

 

[GT351]

Tragic story

But they are flight stewards not paramedics. a lot of people go to water in face of a disaster. I dont think they are adequately trained for CPR resus etc.

GT

 

[Sprucegoose]

Im hoping this is a very biased story as well, but I am sure they wouldn't publish claims such as the defrib wasn't bought out of hiding, and the crew did nothing to help...

I would like to think that the crews would have a form of professional indemnity when in the air and if trying to save someone's life fails, they are free of fault.

Another in a long list of my reasons not to fly the friendly skies with our Arab friends...

Agree here mate......the Melbourne incident did it for me....total sheer incompetence .

 

[milehighclub]

Tragic story

But they are flight stewards not paramedics. a lot of people go to water in face of a disaster. I dont think they are adequately trained for CPR resus etc.

GT

The article said she was gasping for air. You don't give CPR to someone who is breathing anyway. The article said they administered oxygen, which is what you would do.

As for the rest of it - there is too much information missing, although deplaning passengers first, if that happened would have been an error on EK's part.

Don't underestimate the medical training given to crew. Emirates actually does better than Qantas on this one in regards to training given but rest assured any Qantas flight attendant would do their absolute best in any medical situation and we are all thoroughly trained in CPR.

 

[drmikki]

As said by others on this thread, I REALLY do not trust any one-sided report that happens to be associated with a legal case. Call me cynical, but it has been my experience that these are never presenting the complete truth... The news report seems to be quoting a lawyer's publicity statement rather than providing unbiased journalism.