American Airlines passenger dies from lack of oxygen

[muddafakka]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/02/26/2008-02-26_family_blames_american_airlines_crew_for-2.html

You guys think AA is to blame or do you think she had it coming due to her condition?

[Matej]

That's definitely a tragedy, but it's not the airline's fault, their job is to transport people from point A to point B, a passenger plane is not a hospital, sounds more like the family wants money out of it.

[HyperTek]

Desir's family says airline flight attendants didn't move quickly enough to help her and that lifesaving equipment was not working.

I seriously doubt the flight attendants where trained for this type of situation... I could imagine being in their shoes, and this type of situation arising, would not know what to do if not trained for it..

Something else happend to that women in Haiti.. maybe an uneasy feud or something had her upset/uneasy complications... and the flight just set it off

[kdashy]

"An autopsy revealed Desir died of heart disease and diabetes."

Well there you go.

[HyperTek]

she coulda died on a bus.. they woulda blamed the bus company

[Matej]

she coulda died on a bus.. they woulda blamed the bus company
Woaa I was just about to say the same thing, +repz.

[status:one]

How is American Airlines to blame for a condition that this woman had and could have died anywhere anytime? The crew members helped her...but she was in a fucking airplane so people are only limited to what they can do to aid someone in that situation. If she knew she had such a condition, she should have never flown in the first place. AA is not to blame for her death at all.... there is only so much people can do in a situation like that.

[CrimsonRockett]

"An autopsy revealed Desir died of heart disease and diabetes."

Well there you go.

Fucking right.

I hate when families try to suck millions out of these companies for shit they shouldn't be held accountable for.

Good job, autopsy!

[Matej]

I hate when families try to suck millions out of these companies for shit they shouldn't be held accountable for.
Truth, I find in bad taste when people do this. If you truly cared about someone, you should be grieving for them, not trying to make profit off their death.

[CrimsonRockett]

Same goes for the dude that sued Nissan for his wife's/kid's death.

They were victims of a fucking idiot mustang driver street racing, smashed into the Altima at a VERY high speed, and the car was up in flames.

Grieve, hate the mother fucker who killed your wife/kids, and make sure he gets locked up for life.

Don't profit off of their deaths....

[Impact Drift]

in a cpr class I took in college the number one thing they teach you is not to do cpr unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary because a LOT of people get sued for damaging the persons chest. How low has this world gotten?

I think the saying is true that if it wasn't for lawyers there would be no need for lawyers.

[jackjack]

its tragic, but AA is not to blame.

[cdlong]

in a cpr class I took in college the number one thing they teach you is not to do cpr unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary because a LOT of people get sued for damaging the persons chest. How low has this world gotten?

I think the saying is true that if it wasn't for lawyers there would be no need for lawyers.

there are good samaritan laws for that. as long as your intentions are to help someone, and they are in need of help, they can't sue you. now if you don't know what you're doing and just start doing CPR on someone that doesn't need it, then you're just an idiot.

now if you're using an AED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_external_defibrillator), which they were in this case, it will tell you exactly what to do. the machine might not look like it's doing anything, and it very well might not actually do anything. but that doesn't mean it's broken, that just means it won't help (defib-ing someone with a heartbeat could kill them).

[S14DB]

I would sue if I was on that flight for not landing in Miami and flying on to NY.

[azndoc]

I would sue if there was no hot girls on the plane.

But seriously this is crap.

AA sucks but doesn't suck that much.

Not as much as I do.

[SlideWell]

gawd, im such an ALCOHOLIC.
when i saw AA i immediately thought of alcoholics anonymous :rofl:

[eastcoastS14]

lol I love how all of you jump to conclusions about ppls intentions...where does it say that the family is going to sue or is pressing charges or anything like that??? the family is upset because a loved one died on a plane and they are under the impression that the medical eqipment was not working, you all just assume that they are money hungry for whatever reasons you made up in your head but I think we'd all be looking for answers if this was someone in our own families...especially since her cousin who was flying with her probably witnessed the whole thing and was under the impression that they could have done more

[yudalicious]

lol I love how all of you jump to conclusions about ppls intentions...where does it say that the family is going to sue or is pressing charges or anything like that??? the family is upset because a loved one died on a plane and they are under the impression that the medical eqipment was not working, you all just assume that they are money hungry for whatever reasons you made up in your head but I think we'd all be looking for answers if this was someone in our own families...especially since her cousin who was flying with her probably witnessed the whole thing and was under the impression that they could have done more

if my family or friend had a condition like that I would be prepared myself, or have someone prepared to take care of the person in a case of emergency fly as a companion OR not fly at all. it's clear this cousin wasn't prepared and knew zero about how to handle the situation, yet is still trying to somehow to shift the responsibility to someone else. And I'm also willing to bet they are at least entertaining the idea of a lawsuit, if there isn't one, it probably because their lawyer told them it wouldn't hold up in court.

[fc3s kit]

I hate it when normal people try to tell professionals how to do their job. You see it a lot in hospitals. "Give her something, do something!" I understand how stressful it is to be unable to do anything for the one you love, but don't make it harder for the people who CAN do something.

Furthermore, have you guys seen how many preflight checks are done on airplanes before EVERY flight? People don't check their cars like that, hell, they don't check them like that every year, and they drive them every day. I doubt there was a equipment failure.

[status:one]

lol I love how all of you jump to conclusions about ppls intentions...where does it say that the family is going to sue or is pressing charges or anything like that??? the family is upset because a loved one died on a plane and they are under the impression that the medical eqipment was not working, you all just assume that they are money hungry for whatever reasons you made up in your head but I think we'd all be looking for answers if this was someone in our own families...especially since her cousin who was flying with her probably witnessed the whole thing and was under the impression that they could have done more

Your right, it has nothing to do with making profit out of one's death. It's basically a way for family members to find closure on reasons why their loved one died. It all has to do with their anger. They are trying to find a reason why they their loved one isn't around anymore.

[HyperTek]

i bet she never told anyone her condition.. alot of women hide that from thier familys..


but then again this story is being told to us by the media.. media usually gets thier info wrong or not all correct. Right now theey probably already settled down who knows.

Imagine how much money AA would have lost if they turned around or diverted thier flight to a different location? and how many upset clients would have been.. its really a terrible situation, you have 2 ends to satisfy, the womans family, and the other flyers. Let alone the womens conditions where probably not even notified to the airlines so they would have no idea what to expect.

[mrmephistopheles]

Truth, I find in bad taste when people do this. If you truly cared about someone, you should be grieving for them, not trying to make profit off their death.

Unless you're a Ferengi.

[cdlong]

it took me a while to remember what a ferengi was. you're a nerd.

[ca18guy]

My room mate just got back from a trip where the lady behind him died shortly after take off (she was old and just passed away quietly) They landed the plane at the closest airport to get her off. I don't see why, deads dead might as well keep on going :o

[eastcoastS14]

if my family or friend had a condition like that I would be prepared myself, or have someone prepared to take care of the person in a case of emergency fly as a companion OR not fly at all. it's clear this cousin wasn't prepared and knew zero about how to handle the situation, yet is still trying to somehow to shift the responsibility to someone else. And I'm also willing to bet they are at least entertaining the idea of a lawsuit, if there isn't one, it probably because their lawyer told them it wouldn't hold up in court.

they said she had diabetes and a heart disease? you know anyone with diabetes or a heart condition? it doesnt mean you could drop dead at any moment, or need someone to fly with yout, or shouldnt get on a plane...do you assume people who are at risk for a heart attack take the bus everyday so they dont have a heart attack behind the wheel? She just flew to and from haiti so obviously flying wasnt the issue...sometimes when ppl have heart conditions or other problems like that things can go from norman to bad to worse very rapidly....and once again i dont know how you can just assume they are thinking of a lawsuit, any one who is saying that just from reading the article is purely speculating so anything you assume about her family really doesnt mean shit since you really have no clue whats going through their heads.....nice try tho

[sick_lazy_gray-s13]

Well if the defibrilator, and oxygen tanks weren't working. I emphasize IF. Then they will have a case. As for the flight attendants, if they are trained to do CPR and handle emergency care, they should be recertified every few years. If whoever helped did all they could, then it was her time to go. For her diabetes, she should of had her insulin with her. For her heart disease, well there's a reason why she got the disease in the first place. It was just her time I guess.

[Farzam]

I don't see why, deads dead might as well keep on going :o


1. Dead people are losers, and from recent reports I recently drew the conclusion that loserness is infectious.
2. Dead people smell bad.
3. Dead people poop themselves.
4. Poop smells bad.
5. Dead people have staring problems.

[yudalicious]

they said she had diabetes and a heart disease? you know anyone with diabetes or a heart condition? it doesnt mean you could drop dead at any moment, or need someone to fly with yout, or shouldnt get on a plane...
apparently, she DID drop dead at that moment. I'm not saying she shouldn't be allowed on a plane, I'm saying it was their choice to do so, the airline didn't make them.


do you assume people who are at risk for a heart attack take the bus everyday so they dont have a heart attack behind the wheel?

No. I assume that people who are at risk don't shift the blame to others if something does happen.

She just flew to and from haiti so obviously flying wasnt the issue...

Where did I say flying caused it?

sometimes when ppl have heart conditions or other problems like that things can go from norman to bad to worse very rapidly....

Really? Maybe I should've thought about that before I decided to get on a flight...


and once again i dont know how you can just assume they are thinking of a lawsuit, any one who is saying that just from reading the article is purely speculating so anything you assume about her family really doesnt mean shit since you really have no clue whats going through their heads.....
I am going to assume that they at least THOUGHT about a lawsuit, and apparently MOST ppl on here think so too. If you don't, that's fine.


nice try tho
Cute. Thanks.

[SlideWell]

ehhh. cars...use em or fly. you make the choice.

[S13_Nightkid]

what? in the event the family does sue that would be fucked up. i mean on what grounds exactly? The fact that she knew the risks taking a flight anyway because of the warning signs. It would be ridiculous...somewhat similar to people for suing mcdonalds for getting fat and fucking heart disease. and for sick^^ the flight attendants were trained to use life-saving equipment...in event god forbid it doesnt work. i guess thats what happened in this case.

[eastcoastS14]

apparently, she DID drop dead at that moment. I'm not saying she shouldn't be allowed on a plane, I'm saying it was their choice to do so, the airline didn't make them.

right...but the issue is that they are under the impression that the emergency equipment failed, if youre going to have it on board then it should be in working order, that is the dispute...I agree that a plane is not a hospital but if the case is that there was equipment on a plane that failed then the airline is somewhat at fault

No. I assume that people who are at risk don't shift the blame to others if something does happen.

who is shifting blame? the lady is dead.....her cousin witnessed an event and felt that the people who were trying to help were incompetent and the safety equipment that could have made a difference was not working...it says right in the story that according to the cousin they flight attendant refused to give her oxygen at first...idk about you but if she was a family member of mine and someone was refusing her oxygen and then i believed that the oxygen tanks were empty id be blaming the airlines too.....you have to remember that this is a family who just lost someone and a woman who watched her cousin die in front of her eyes...of course they are going to be looking for answers and feeling like more could have been done even if that is not the case

Where did I say flying caused it?

you didnt...you said she could have just not taken the flight...my point is flying wasnt the issue, she could have taken a train or a car or a bus and she still probably would have had heart complications so "not flying" just means that she would have died on some other mode of transportation and if Amtrak or greyhound had empty oxygen tanks then theyd be to blame

Really? Maybe I should've thought about that before I decided to get on a flight...

umm ok....maybe you should have

I am going to assume that they at least THOUGHT about a lawsuit, and apparently MOST ppl on here think so too. If you don't, that's fine.

yes exactly...you are assuming....just because you assume something doesnt make it true, its just annoying cause its a family who just lost a loved one...is clearly pissed and looking for answers and closure on the situation and first thing is ppls minds is "oooh they just want money" even tho it says absolutely nothing about that at all anywhere in the article...


Cute. Thanks.

no problem :kiss:

[S14DB]

Really? Maybe I should've thought about that before I decided to get on a flight...

That would probably be an issue. The people knew there was emergency medical supply's/devices on board. So there is an assumed feeling of safety. Law protects a person trying to save someone not improperly maintained equipment.

[yudalicious]

right...but the issue is that they are under the impression that the emergency equipment failed, if youre going to have it on board then it should be in working order, that is the dispute...I agree that a plane is not a hospital but if the case is that there was equipment on a plane that failed then the airline is somewhat at fault

That was my feeling as well, until I read more on the story, and it seems to me the attendants did everything according to regulation, and the plane was equipped according to regulation as well. Of course, the cousin's statements will have you believe that the airline themselves dragged the lady on board and had tea while watching the lady die.

Like I said, given the litigious tendencies of this country, I don't think I'm too far off here assuming they're going to sue. Notice I NEVER said about them wanting money, I just said I think they will sue.