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Ophthalmologist treats stricken passenger on airline flight
A central Florida ophthalmologist provided emergency cardiac care to a fellow passenger stricken on a commercial flight on Oct. 5.
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Roger Rath, MD, whose practice is in Leesburg and Eustis, Fla., was on a flight en route to a medical meeting in the Pacific Northwest. Midway through the flight a passenger lost consciousness. Seeing the commotion, Dr. Rath identified himself as a medical doctor and quickly assessed the patient’s medical status. The woman had no measurable blood pressure or pulse.
Dr. Rath cleared out the row of passengers seated around the afflicted passenger, then positioned the patient with head down below her feet and requested oxygen, defibrillation equipment and other life-saving medications from the flight attendants. He administered the necessary medical life support, quickly bringing the patient to consciousness with stable vital signs.
The Delta pilot had initiated an inboard emergency medical consultation with a University of Pittsburgh emergency room director who was on call for Delta in-flight medical emergencies. The ER physician discussed the patient’s medical status with Dr. Rath, was pleased with the resuscitation outcome and recommended to the Delta pilot that an in-flight airport diversion landing was not necessary. On arrival in Seattle, paramedics boarded the flight before anyone deplaned, found the patient medically stable and transported her to an emergency room near the airport.
The patient has since sent a thank-you letter expressing her gratitude for Dr. Rath’s medical intervention. She said that most likely her blood pressure instability was caused by a heart block that will require a pacemaker.
Delta Airlines also acknowledged their appreciation by sending Dr. Rath an appreciation letter with a $75 voucher for future travel. The letter stated that Delta and the entire crew were pleased that the patient survived the ordeal and that the pilot had not been required to make an emergency en-route diversion, increasing risk to all aboard the flight.
Dr. Rath had practiced general medicine after medical school before completing his ophthalmic residency at the Cleveland Clinic. He is a nationally certified instructor of advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) [the techniques required to sustain a life until further medical support is available]. He has taught ACLS to other health care professionals in Lake County and elsewhere.