Good Samaritan Acts

1
Good Samaritan Acts Helping Out on Airplanes

• Legal and ethical aspects

2
GMC guidance

• doctor have an ETHICAL duty to assist in an
  emergency
• in an emergency, WHERE EVER it may arise, you
  must offer anyone at risk the assistance you
  could reasonably be expected to provide Good
  medical practice
• Recognise and work within the limits of your
  professional competence good medical practice

3
LAW

• Good Samaritan act exists in some countries and
  in the US there is an aviation medical
  assistance act
• In France can go to jail for NOT offering
  assistance in good Samaritan situations!
• No legislation in England and none planned so it
  remains an ETHICAL obligation with guidance from
  GMCBUT no legal obligations

4
Medical Insurance

• Some airlines provide indemnity for good
  Samaritan acts
• MDU/MPS members insured for all good Samaritan
  acts in an emergency where they are a bystander
  (including USA Canada)
• Crew and captain ultimately responsible for
  health of passengers legally

5
Dont Forget!!

• Confidentiality (in case of media interest!)
• Keep a medical record of what happened
• If consumed alcohol must make this clear when
  volunteering assistance

6
TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT

• Basic first aid course
• Training programme
• Reviewed annually
• Some airlines may have more advanced forms.
• No standards or guidelines in place

7
TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT

• Regulatory bodies - Civil Aviation Authority
  (CAA), Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), European
  Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Aviation Medical
  Assistance Act of 1998
• 2 types of kits
• Basic first aid kit
• Medical kit
• AED Compulsory on american flights only, but
  others airlines do carry them

8
Telemedical services

• Many airlines now use the services of
  telemedicine companies, e.g. Medlink Service,
  which provide immediate advice by satellite
  telephone or high frequency radio from doctors
  who are particularly knowledgeable of air borne
  conditions.
• This service is used by around 90 airlines
  including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, BA, Cathay
  Pacific, Delta Airlines, Qantas Airways, Thomas
  Cook Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways