Listening 8: Medical problems

Despite advances in medicine over the years, the introduction of the In-flight Medical
Kit (I-M-K) in 1986, and the more recent incorporation of in-flight tele-medicine, the
diversion rate for medical reasons has remained small but constant.
One study of 145 cases found that 28 (19%) of the flight diversions were probably
unnecessary in light of subsequent follow-up information. In three of the 28 cases
(two cardiac cases and one respiratory case), the passenger refused further medical
advice; therefore, there was no post-flight follow-up. The remaining 25 cases did not
appear to be serious enough to have warranted a flight diversion for medical reasons.
These include, among others, dehydration, pain or anxiety. However, it must be
emphasized that these determination were arrived at after careful consideration of
post-flight treatment data that were not available during the flight.
Although most occurrences on a “one-in-a-million” basis can generally be considered
an acceptable risk, it should be noted that medical diversions are time-consuming and
expensive events, and many of them can be avoided. Diversions can affect the
schedule of large numbers of passengers who require accommodation and possible
financial compensation for their inconvenience. As an example, diversions cost
British Airways up to 500,000 pounds in 1996. In addition, a series of time-
consuming steps must be taken for any diversion to take place. Not only must
arrangements be made to receive and evacuate the ill passenger on landing, but the
available medical facilities at a potential alternate destination must be considered.
Landing weight is also a consideration, and valuable fuel may have to be jettisoned to
attain a suitable landing weight for.