Doctor on board

[Matt]

Over 20 years of travelling while being a doctor I’ve heard “is there a doctor on board?” 4 times.

The best was on the upper deck of a QR A380 where I made myself known and the cabin crew said that the passenger was downstairs in economy so they’d look for a doctor down there – I didn’t hear anything further.

I was called to see a passenger on an Austrian Airlines flight in 2006, who as far as I could tell was having a panic attack. It was on the way to Sydney via Kuala Lumpur, so there was quite a long time nervously worrying I’d got it wrong. I’m not sure the cabin crew even said thank you – I certainly didn’t get any champagne, or upgrade, or anything else.

On Turkish Airlines a couple of years ago I was asked to see a passenger who again didn’t appear to have anything serious wrong with him. I persuaded the cabin crew to give him some paracetamol and that was about it. They thanked me, and I got an automated email from the airline a couple of months later thanking me and offering me some bonus miles if I signed up to their physician Miles and Smiles scheme.

For completeness I also got called on a train, to someone who actually was unwell. A thank you from the guard but nothing else there either.

Based on prior experience I would volunteer again if needed, but I would be surprised if I was given anything in reward.

[yorkshireRich]

Firstly, well done to your wife and it is right that you should be extremely proud.
My opinion (and I appreciate it counts for sweet FA) is that this human instinct, and we are here to help people when they need it the most.

I fully appreciate it’s not the experience you wanted, but life doesn’t always work like that does it? If someone kicked off on a plane, I would like to think the appropriate people would restrain them appropriately. If there was a fire on board, I would like to think the appropriate people who have experience in that field would assist more than the “normal” person. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Despite what the media and politicians sometimes may portray, there is kindness throughout the world and that saying “pay it forward” is a saying that I truly believe in.

Again, it is extremely commendable and I am so glad and thankful that there are people like your wife out there. However, my personal belief is that you should leave it now and hope that if there was a situation involving your family, someone would also selflessly help you and not want anything for it due to inconvenience caused.