The Mary Sue
‘What kind of doctor are you?’ Black doctor answers call for help on flight. Th…
A Black doctor is ready to help address a potential emergency situation on a recent flight, but says the flight attendants questioned his credentials…
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Flight Attendants Question Doctor's Credentials During In-Flight Emergencies, Sparking Debate on Professional Respect
San Francisco, CA A resident physician, Dr. Jordan, recently shared a troubling account of his experience on a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, to San Francisco, where his medical credentials were repeatedly questioned by flight attendants during two separate in-flight medical emergencies. According to Dr. Jordan, approximately three hours into the flight, an announcement was made requesting a doctor. Upon identifying himself, he was met with skepticism. "Are you sure you're a doctor?" a flight attendant reportedly asked, looking at him "kind of weird." Despite showing his work ID, which clearly stated "Medical Doctor" and "MD," he was asked for a "medical ID" he did not possess. The first incident involved a six-year-old boy who had been vomiting throughout the flight. Dr. Jordan assessed the child and determined he could benefit from an antiemetic. However, a flight attendant allegedly interjected, telling him how to ask questions and even suggesting her own medical plan. When Dr. Jordan recommended medication, the flight attendant reportedly stated, "No, he doesn't. We'll just wait to see if X, Y, Z happens again." Dr. Jordan expressed his dismay, noting, "This is a flight attendant telling me how to do my job." He added that the staff were reluctant to open the locked medical box without further verification of his credentials. Later on the same flight, a second medical emergency occurred, again requiring a physician. Dr. Jordan again offered assistance and, for the second time, faced questioning from a different set of flight attendants. Both patients ultimately fared well, but Dr. Jordan described the experience as "exhausting" and "unpleasant," highlighting the burden of constantly defending his professional title and feeling "seen as less than" or undeserving of his title.
