Kin: Woman Who Died On Flight Was Ignored

American Airlines Disputes Account Of Man Who Blames Flight Attendant, Faulty Medical Devices

(AP)  American Airlines on Monday insisted it tried to help a passenger who died after complaining she couldn't breathe, and disputed the account of a relative who said that she was denied oxygen and that medical devices failed.

The airline said the oxygen tanks and a defibrillator were working and noted that several medical professionals on the flight, including a doctor, tried to save the passenger, Carine Desir, 44, who had heart disease.

"American Airlines, after investigation, has determined that oxygen was administered on the aircraft, and it was working, and the defibrillator was applied as well," airline spokesman Charley Wilson said Monday.

Desir had complained of not feeling well and being very thirsty on the Friday flight home from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after she ate a meal, according to Antonio Oliver, a cousin who was traveling with her and her brother, Joel Desir. A flight attendant gave her water, he said.

A few minutes later, Desir said she was having "trouble breathing" and asked for oxygen, but a flight attendant twice refused her request, Oliver said.

"Don't let me die," he recalled her saying.

He said other passengers aboard Flight 896 became agitated over the situation, and the flight attendant, apparently after phone consultation with the cockpit, tried to administer oxygen from a portable tank and mask, but the tank was empty.

Oliver said two doctors and two nurses were aboard and tried to administer oxygen from a second tank, which also was empty. Desir was placed on the floor, and a nurse tried CPR, Oliver said. A defibrillator, which he called a "box," also was applied but didn't function effectively, he said.

Oliver said he then asked for the plane to "land right away so I can get her to a hospital," and the pilot agreed to divert to Miami, 45 minutes away. But during that time Desir collapsed and died, Oliver said.

"Her last words were, 'I cannot breathe,"' he said.

There were 12 oxygen tanks on the plane and the crew checked them before the flight took off to make sure they were working, Wilson said. He said at least two were used on Desir.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial flights to carry no fewer than two oxygen dispensers. The main goal of the rule is to have oxygen available in the event of a rapid cabin decompression, but it can also be used for other emergencies. It is up to the airlines to maintain the canisters.

Wilson said Desir's cousin flagged down a flight attendant and said the woman had diabetes and needed oxygen.

"The flight attendant responded, 'OK, but we usually don't need to treat diabetes with oxygen, but let me check anyway and get back to you."'

Wilson said the employee spoke with another flight attendant, and both went to Desir within one to three minutes.

"By that time the situation was worsening, and they immediately began administering oxygen," he said.

Wilson said the defibrillator was used but that the machine indicated Desir's heartbeat was too weak to activate the unit.

An automated external defibrillator delivers an electric shock to try to restore a normal heart rhythm if a a particular type of irregular heart beat is detected. The machines cannot help in all cases.

Wilson said three flight attendants helped Desir, but "stepped back" after doctors and nurses on the flight began to help her.

"Our crew acted very admirably. They did what they were trained to do, and the equipment was working," he said.

Desir was pronounced dead by one of the doctors, Joel Shulkin, and the flight continued to John F. Kennedy International Airport, without stopping in Miami. The woman's body was moved to the floor of the first-class section and covered with a blanket, Oliver said.

Desir died of complications from heart disease and diabetes, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office.

Shulkin, through his attorney, Justin Nadeau, declined to comment on the incident.

FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said the agency was closely following the details of the incident.

[michellem99-2009]

This is awful. They have a duty to make sure everything work on the aircraft. The repect for a sp needs person. They got some some expaining to do. May the lady rest in peace. It sound like they killed her going by the article.

[andor3]

terrible! two faulty O2 tanks and a faulty defib, she knew what she needed and onboard medical personnel did too but American Airline provided faulty equipment. natural causes meh--they killed her.

[grammawhamma]

I agree...the equiptment should have been working. However this story sounds like there is more to it than is being told. Wait and see.

[missut2]

This is horrible! What is supposed to come out of the little masks they show you how to use?? Why couldn''t they pull down one of those masks for her? It is outrageous that an airline that serves the public would not have working medical equipment on board...2 empty oxygen tanks and a faulty defibrillator....unexcusable. But to me, the very worse is that this lady asked and was DENIED twice by a flight attendant! Then when other passengers became upset this attendant had to talk it over with the cockpit??? He should be fired immediately and charges should be pending.

I have emphysema, am on oxygen 24/7, and I know how this woman felt when she couldn''t breathe....it''s a scary feeling.

My condolences to her family.....

[ramos937]

The flight attendant works for the airline and should have been better trained on on board equipment. He/she obviously was not. Thus. the airline bears a lot of the blame.

A responder is correct. Why did not just drop the oxygen mask that is used in case of emergency. No matter if all of them have to be dropped for this to work. The other passengers would not complain if they knew what was happening.

[occams_taser]

It''s murder. "Don''t let me die" -- but they did just that.

[j_flood]

There are emergency oxygen tanks in the flight deck - were they used? No matter what was available or not working the woman may have died anyway. Horrible mess.

RIP - and condolences to her family.

[Ddokken69]

I cannot believe what I just read, you mean to tell me that someone is dying on a plane begging for help and the stewardess has to make a phonecall up front to the captain before anything is done??? I hope they sue the pants off A.A. because that was down right cruel to do what they did to that poor woman. Not to mention what about the safety equipment on the plane? Lord forbid they have a major incident because non of the safety equipment seemed to be working at the time I mean not one but two bottles of O2 were empty? So why didn''t they go and try a third one? The woman is taking her last breaths and everything is not working around them. My hats off to the doctors and nurses who tried their best to handle a very bad situation that might have been avoided if not for the lady that was supposed to be a stewardess.

[oeangus]

It''''s murder. "Don''''t let me die" -- but they did just that. - Posted by occams_taser

LOL @ your stupid comment. They didn''t push her out the plane -- she died of natural causes.

[joyous88]

she died because the corrupt immoral conservative
administration does not believe in government of any
type but the one that makes them the most money.

its the same reason that we have a war in Iraq and that millions of poor people are losing theit homes.

the republicans don''t care about humans they only care about profits

[joyous88]

right on to you antizion

[nwihoosier]

Peace and Love
joyous88, I believe you are not joyous but a very sad individual. Please do something nice for someone. You''ll feel better.
Peace and Love

[dsr57]

she died because the corrupt immoral conservative
administration does not believe in government of any
type but the one that makes them the most money.

its the same reason that we have a war in Iraq and that millions of poor people are losing theit homes.

the republicans don''''t care about humans they only care about profit.

Posted by joyous88
------------------------------------------------------
How did that go from a lady not getting oxygen to republicans killing people? Like bush creeped on the plane and switched the oxygen tanks?

[raneknight]

What we have here is a horrible situation that is not the "jews" fault, or the "governments" fault, but simply put, It is the airlines fault for not educating their staff on emergency procedures and implimenting a contingency plan should a passenger need oxygen or cpr. The oxygen tanks should have been checked and refilled as part of the ground checks. What will happen is NOW a plan will be put into place to check that stuff and the airline will attempt to settle quietly with the family of this lady.

[samrensho]

AA saves money by not having to carry filled oxygen bottles - just stage props. In my experience today''s flight attendants are one step removed from the burger flippers that do the security screening.

[jerkeedoodle]

Natural causes?You gotta love the airlines in this country.What''s the quickest,and safest way to fly nowadays?Take a train!

[darrren12000]

SORRY YOU guys. you do not know the whole story -- just what the nurse said. does anyone withhold judgment in this country any more?

[trenticus-2009]

First flight of the day equipment is supposed to be checked. Anytime a crew takes an airplane the equipment is supposed to be checked. How many times did this plane change crews before this flight? This is VERY innexcusable and AA will be liable. The decision to continue on to JFK and not divert is a BAD call! You can bet that plane is impounded while an investigation is underway. Now not only does AA lose revenue for that plane they also have to answer to F.A.A. as to why the equipment didn''t work. Yes, I agree that the drop down mask should have been used while they diverted.
Before oxgen is releaed from any source you MUST notify the cockpit. Not to get their permission but to keep them in the loop. I am an ex flight attendant, have administered oxgen several times and have even diverted due to medical emergencies. Pilots do listen to their cabin staff because we are the eyes and ears in the back. Unfortunately some pilots have a god like complex. A good crew collectively makes good decisions. This was NOT a good crew....

[jerkeedoodle]

tuck,What if they''d had a fire onboard,and it had been an empty fire extinguisher that brought the plane down?I could understand it if they had no tank at all,but an empty one?Somebody wasn''t doing their job.

[payasyougo]

Someone with a significant medical problem became the airline''s medical problem.

The airlines should implement a policy denying passage for anyone that appears to have any potential significant medical problem. That way, the airlines don''t accept the potential liability.

My condolences to the family. This was tragic.

[tbweb]

This tragedy should give Americans a warm and fuzzy feeling, not only are we not ready for the next major terrorist attack, as you can see Americans Airlines can''t even provide basic oxygen, which also makes you wonder if the air mask were to drop down for each passenger in case of an in flight emergency would those even work, probably not!

[shortredneck]

I tried to report abuse on one of the comments posted. There is nowhere on the comment box to send the report. I don''t know how to register my complaint and get CBS to look at some of these postings. There are several comments that are racist and personally insulting to more than one group of people. I hope that someone from CBS reads this and lets me address my complaint.

Oh, and if other posters want to know why I am upset it is because my son is one of those children who has become "cannon fodder". Any Jew or person associated with the military should receive an apology for letting those comments stay in this forum.

[darrren12000]

why do you guys believe everything that the relatives said? you really do not know. the "reporter" wrote a very dramatic story - but all of the accounts are from one side. you really do not know. THANK GOD THEY SCREEN JURORS IN THIS COUNTRY. ALL OF YOU WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED.

[formrusmcsgt]

The woman''''s death is unfortunate, but it is NOT the fault of the airline.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 07:54 AM : Feb 25, 2008

Cnn is showing a picture of the victim in which she appears to be morbidly obese. She (for some reason) was suffering from heart disease at the age of 44.

I agree that, while her death is tragic, it would appear that she was in no condition to travel and contributed to her own demise by doing so.

[clifden6]

The death of a passenger on an American airline due to its obvious incompetance and its callous disregard for the life of a human being, should be no surprise to anybody. After all, where else in this world, but in the United States, would a hospital send a patient to skid row in taxi because she was unable to pay her bill. Americans are not people, but consumers, and the United States is not a society, but an economy.

[formrusmcsgt]

The death of a passenger on an American airline due to its obvious incompetance and its callous disregard for the life of a human being, should be no surprise to anybody.

Posted by mutmee at 07:58 AM : Feb 25, 2008

Take a look at the CNN article and tell me that American Airlines was responsible for her condition.

This woman ate herself to death.

[formrusmcsgt]

formrusmcsgt at 07:58 AM : Feb 25, 2008

Thanks for that update. I haven''''t turned on the tv yet, just rolled out of bed and sipping coffee, trying to catch up on political news.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 08:03 AM : Feb 25, 2008

I was referring to CNN.com''s article, tuck....

[hollyt2-2009]

The point of the whole thing is Faulty equipment. They have it on the plane for reasons of this . I blame quality control..Dieing because you cant breath is the torture of all torture because you know what is happening and cant do anything about it.

[formrusmcsgt]

The point of the whole thing is Faulty equipment.

Posted by hollyt2 at 08:10 AM : Feb 25, 2008

I would say neglected equipment is more correct. It didn''t malfunction, but rather, was depleted and not re-filled.

American Airlines was indeed negligent in that regard.

The other side of the coin is that some people travel when they are in no condition to do so.

This woman obviously was not.

[rowdytexan2]

"A few minutes later, Desir said she was having trouble breathing and asked for oxygen, but a flight attendant twice refused her request,"

Strange, that an airline is not able to provide basic medical attention when they''re totally isolated up in the air and could possibly meet with such medical problems. Lots of people have heart attacks that have no clue they''re going to have them.

The fact that the woman asked for oxygen, and the flight attendant refused twice in the first place is a major issue. When do flight attendants get to decide to refuse basic medical care when someone needs it?

[jerkeedoodle]

tuck,I''m not saying the crew was responsible.Their maintenance of the plane,or lack thereof,is what the ambulance chaser will be jawin'' about in front of the judge.

[clifden6]

Some of the comments I have seen posted cause me to reflect on a pasage in a text book for a philosophy course I took as an undergraduate, which is:

"My own experience as a teacher in getting student reactions to situations that involved the acceptance or the moral reprobation of senseless criminal violence. makes me believe that perhaps as much as a third of our student population of college grade may, for all practical reasons, be considered moral imbeciles, or at least moral illiterates. So poorly have the moral values that still remain partly operative have been transmitted to these students that they are potential, if not active, delinquents. Though they have been screened by intelligence tests and personality tests before entering college, they have not yet acquired the moral values and purposes that would enable them to function as full-grown human beings. Masked by more adult habits that they share with the rest of the community, their values remain infantile, if not brutally criminal." American Airlnes please take note.

[creeper00]

This is ominous. BOTH portable oxygen tanks were empty? How could that happen? These things are part of a standard checklist.

Did the flight attendant know that the O2 tanks were empty? Is that why she declined twice to give the passenger oxygen?

This doesn''t look good for American Airlines.

[jerkeedoodle]

tuck,The dope back in the hangar signing off on stuff he didn''t check is the one they''ll be after.Trust me,I''ve been doing essentially the same job for years.

[feedback3-2009]

I agree with "tuckerndfw" when he proclaims, quite emphatically, that he is an a$$hole. I hope that his fellow passengers will put him in the overhead bin should he ever experience a medical emergency on an airplane (going on the assumption that he is slim enough to fit, as that is obviously the prime measure of the value of human life). Hey "tuck", be sure to fly American, they''re your kind of people.

[barbaraf4]

"The fact that the woman asked for oxygen, and the flight attendant refused twice in the first place is a major issue. When do flight attendants get to decide to refuse basic medical care when someone needs it?" Posted by RowdyTexan2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This woman should have consulted her own doctor before setting foot on this plane. At the very least, she should have inquired about available oxygen when she purchased her ticket. Plane tickets do not include "basic medical care". Airlines that no longer feed you probably are not obligated to provide oxygen.

The portable oxygen tanks are for the use of the cabin crew in the event of decompression. They are able to move about while insuring that everyone else has their oxygen masks on. If I were a member of the cabin crew, I would be demanding answers.

If airlines are obligated to provide medical services, then they should require a doctor on every flight.

[docpeter-2009]

RE: RowdyTexan2 wrote, "When do flight attendants get to decide to refuse basic medical care when someone needs it?" When they don''t have a medical license. When they are not trained in CPR or Basic Life Support. Remember there were at least two doctors and two nurses on-board the flight. While they probably weren''t immediately aware of the circumstances, they did finally respond. As an aside, if the deceased knew she had heart disease, why was she flying without proper and appropriate medical needs.

[marymcq]

First of all "tuckerndfw" you are an idiot, and being a nurse for 12yrs, let me say this, there is alot of people with heart disease, she might not have even known it, she was only 44, she may not have never even had any symptoms, or if she did, cardiac syptoms mock a lot of different things, like indegestion, gas, etc., that is what the Medical Examiner said from her Autopsy. Just because someone is obese doesn''t mean that they have heart disease, so you can''t say any one that is obese can''t fly because you MIGHT have heart disease. The crew did not kill her, her health killed her, like someone else said in this forum, if she had been home, she would have died anyway because I''m sure she didn''t have oxygen nor did she have defiberlator. There were 2 doctors and 2 nurses there, and she still died, the Airlines did not kill her, yes, their O2 tanks should have been filled, and the defib should have been in working order, but I doubt that would have saved her, the Doctor''s know how to work around not having those items, it was a bad heart attack, she was dead in minutes, no matter where they landed. I''m sorry for the family that lost a loved on, and again, tuckerndfw, that was a horrible thing to say about the dead, I in no way doubt you will get your payback for saying something so horrible.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by tuckerndfw at 08:29 AM : Feb 25, 2008

Tucker, pardon me, but you are WRONG!

It is very possible the family was trying to get her to a place where she could get medical care! Would you deny her that right? Would you deny anyone that right?

What the hell is it going to cost an airline to keep oxygen on board their plane should a passenger start having a heart attack...$10 bucks? They bring drinks and food on an airplane every day, and they can''t put it in their safety routine to check the oxygen tanks?

Because it was an obese woman YOU in your male godliness are going to decide that she has not right to proper care? Who the hell are you? Had it been some skinny dried up guy, you would be touting a great tragedy and shouting for revenge!

Airplanes are isolated. Anybody could choke, have a heart attack, or other medical emergency at any second! Because they''re on an airplane, it''s just an ooooooops, so sorry you''re in the wrong place at the wrong time! You shouldn''t have been there!

The flight attendant denied the woman oxygen twice! Not even knowing he/she had empty oxygen tanks in the first place! Get real!

[dsr57]

I tried to report abuse on one of the comments posted. There is nowhere on the comment box to send the report. I don''''t know how to register my complaint and get CBS to look at some of these postings. There are several comments that are racist and personally insulting to more than one group of people. I hope that someone from CBS reads this and lets me address my complaint.

Oh, and if other posters want to know why I am upset it is because my son is one of those children who has become "cannon fodder". Any Jew or person associated with the military should receive an apology for letting those comments stay in this forum.

Posted by matsmom1
-----------------------------------------------------

Calm Down....Breath..... now shut up and quit being so Sensitive.

[barbaraf4]

"The flight attendant denied the woman oxygen twice! Not even knowing he/she had empty oxygen tanks in the first place! Get real!" Posted by RowdyTexan2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That oxygen was not for public consumption. It was for the cabin crew during an emergency.

So, which is worse? Refuse to offer the tank (which is empty) or offer the tank and it''s empty. Either way, the lawyers are already at work.

[dsr57]

How do any of you know that Oxygen would have saved her life anyway? I never knew that Doctors administered Oxygen as a cure all to Heart Disease. It wouldn''t have helped anyway there was prolly two hamburgers and a chicken wing blocking her wind pipe.

[jerkeedoodle]

tuck,Airline hired the paycheck drawing hangar clown.

[rowdytexan2]

"That oxygen was not for public consumption. It was for the cabin crew during an emergency"

Well now, that''s just a big comfort in the event the pilots had an emergency a needed oxygen! That just justifies it all!

[rowdytexan2]

"She killed herself with her own mouth. Just as tens of millions of Americans routinely do or are in the process of doing as I type these words."

Did you enjoy your beer yesterday, Tuck? Bet your liver loved that! Or your cigarette? Bet your lung loved that! How''s your belt doing over that paunch?

[jerkeedoodle]

tuck,You may be right,if they''ve contracted an outside maintenance company,as alot of them do nowadays.But even then,they''ll be after the bozo back in the hangar,and the people that hired him.

[toolmangler-2009]

We agree that lawyers will use the red herring issue of empty oxygen bottles in their attempt to extort money from the airline''''s insurance company.
Thereby raising rates for everyone else.

The bottom line is the airline is not responsible. She is.
Posted by tuckerndfw at 08:37 AM : Feb 25, 2008



If the aircraft had suffered a pressure failure in flight, and the oxygen had failed, whos fault would that be? The woman boarded the plane with the reasonable expectation of completing her trip safely, If the plane had not been "Required" to carry oxygen for emergancies then they would not have been liable, but it ''is'' required. Will you ok a physical exam (to be payed for by you) to get permission to travel away from your home,

[rowdytexan2]

Nor should they. They are responsible for transporting people & cargo, they are not responsible for providing health care.

She is responsible for her own death, the airline is not.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:11 AM : Feb 25, 2008

Yeah, well, in my call center, I am certainly liable if proper care isn''t given to an employee in a medical emergency. I''m not in the medical care business either!

There''s no way, I can just go ooooops, sorry, I forgot to call 9/11! Or ooops, sorry I could find the fire extinguisher! Or ooops, my employee said she was having breathing problems and I just ignored her!

[toolmangler-2009]

That oxygen was not for public consumption. It was for the cabin crew during an emergency.
So, which is worse? Refuse to offer the tank (which is empty) or offer the tank and it''''s empty. Either way, the lawyers are already at work.
Posted by barbaraf4 at 08:58 AM : Feb 25, 2008

"It was for the cabin crew during an emergency.". What would you call this, a minor inconvenience? If the crew had suffered the same heart problem, how would these "EMPTY" oxygen bottles have kept them alive? (Plane crashes, all die) sssshhheeeeeesssshhh

[rowdytexan2]

RowdyTexan2 your are such an IDIOT. I used to be a flight attendant for Continental. There are portable O2 tanks used in the passenger cabin for emergency use by us when the plane depressurizes and we have to help the passengers. If they were empty then we are in a pickle if we needed them. AA screwed up big time and they need to pay the piper for their errors.


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Posted by davidjones11 at 09:09 AM : Feb 25, 2008

For pete''s sakes, isn''t that what I''m saying?!