Crripes! Try not to get sick on a flight ...

When I read the below I couldn't help but think the airline is about to charge the passenger who became ill on the flight (can't see them absorbing the costs themselves).

Do know one thing though - I sure wouldn't want this doctor to be my physician.


"Air Canada ordered to pay Montreal doctor $1,000 for mid-air consultation
at 19:08 on July 9, 2009, EDT.
THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL - Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) has been ordered to pay a Montreal doctor $1,000 in compensation for having to perform medical duties during an international flight in 2006.

That is less than the $3,058 initially sought by Dr. Henry Coopersmith, which he calculated as the equivalent of an executive-class fare, the value of medical services rendered and compensation for a day of vacation lost.

A judge in small claims court determined Coopersmith deserved a fee for services and compensation for the inconvenience, but that rewarding the full value of a flight would be exaggerated.

Coopersmith and his wife were on a Montreal-Paris flight on Oct. 11, 2006, when cabin crew implored him to help a woman who was suffering from an anxiety attack.

Coopersmith also had to fill out numerous forms and claimed he did not get any sleep during the transatlantic flight.

The Montreal physician has said he wanted airlines to be held accountable for doctors who provide emergency services during a flight".

 

I wonder ... does he perhaps think his fellow physicians will admire him? It's just a guess but I shouldn't think so.

And I'm glad you too agree, allheart55 - can't help but think his interests would always take precedence over a patients needs.

And should this man himself ever perhaps collapse on the street with a heart attack - and some good Samaritan bother to save his life... one could only hope the good Samaritan would then sue this doctor - after all, saving the life of this oh so valuable human must be worth a fortune, right?

 

My thought exactly except I would have said payment upfront first, Its hard to sue a dead person

wonder what his opinion would have been if he was sitting next to a pilot and the one flying the plan was taken ill, would he have said "before you land the plan mate, make sure you get paid"

 

Based on the above, im becoming a doctor for BA or Virgin

 

A new career choice for you, Dalo!

I'm still smiling over the notion of the pilot and this doctor, Match - and can't help but suspect there are a lot of these thoughts going around with doctors and other medical staff that know this guy. Serves him right!

 

Sorry guys but I actually agree with the Doctor on this one.

1. He did not ask the passenger for compensation he asked the airline.

2. At very least he saved the airline some bad publicity.

3. He did not withhold his services demanding compensation.

The airline should not have to be asked or sued for them to compensate a doctor who gets them out of a jam.

 

It's okay to disagree - after all, if we all thought the same life would be boring indeed!

 

I just find this ridiculous. He wanted the price of his airfare when he still traveled on the plane? Loss of a days vacation? He was in the air when it happened! He didn't lose much but his time and possibly his seat. I can understand him suing the airline for the compensation of his services. He did actually do something so he should get paid. But the rest is just crazy!

 

Now, if he'd been administering CPR and keeping someone alive for the remainder of the flight - well, that would be a different matter.

Morally I think he's a poop but must agree that legally he would be entitled to charge the airlines - but again, what ego to think his services to attend to a lady suffering an anxiety attack and filling in some papers were worth what he was suing for! (Still wonder if the airlines are about to send this anxiety laden lady a bill equivalent to what the doctor was awarded in the Court).

I do wonder if this same doctor went to the aid of someone who became ill on the sidewalk or street ... would he sent them a bill for 'services rendered' - or is there a law perhaps that says 'good Samaritans' can't charge? - unless a business asks them to.

 

Lets put this in perspective please. I think the airline got off easy.

I log up thousands of miles on transatlantic flights each year and because I don't have a big company to pay the way I fly coach. That coach seat probably cost the anxiety ridden passenger around $500 +. The business class doctor payed $3,000 +.

The difference is supposedly for all of the amenities offered the passenger in the front of the plane. Did this man get the benefits of all that? No. Did the airline get the benefits of his higher fare? Yes along with the added benefit of not having to assign a cabin crew member to deal with the passenger's anxiety.

This was not a life threatening occurrence and the Doctor could easily have told the crew how best to handle it and go back to his seat.