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11-01-2006, 04:01 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Savannah, GA USA
Posts: 1,520
| |  Airline's medicine ban leaves passenger in coma
Read the whole story here: New Zealand Herald - Airline's medicine ban leaves passenger in coma - Wednesday 01, November 2006 01:44.00 AM
Airline's medicine ban leaves passenger in coma
Wednesday November 1, 2006
By James Ihaka
A diabetic man fell into a coma because airport staff refused to let him take his insulin on board a flight from Auckland to Christchurch.
Qantas yesterday apologised to Tui Peter Russell, who had a severe attack on the plane and was in hospital for two weeks.
Mr Russell said check-in staff at Auckland Airport told him he could not take his medication on board because it was dangerous.
The 43-year-old Glen Innes chef said he had flown many times with Qantas and had never had problems taking his medicine on board.
The medication was clearly labelled, he said.
"They thought I would hurt somebody, but I was only flying to Christchurch, not LA," said Mr Russell.
He started feeling ill during the flight last month and called a flight attendant.
"They asked where the insulin was, and they weren't very happy when they found out I wasn't allowed to bring it on board."
Mr Russell praised cabin crew who tried to keep him conscious and gave him oxygen until they arrived in Christchurch.
But he fell into a coma shortly before the aircraft landed and spent two weeks in Christchurch Hospital.
__________________ The only way to manage diabetes is to CURE it... Diabetes since December, 1983 Meds: Humalog/Pump since 1998, Synthroid 88mcg, Zetia 10mg, Altace 10mg, Prevacid 30mg, Benfotiamine 600mg, 1-a-day multivitamin, Aspirin 325 mg, Garlic-geltab 4,000mg, methylcel. fiber therapy 2,000mg(for cholesterol) So, what's in your lunchbox?  |
11-01-2006, 04:09 AM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Posts: 162
| | | Thats disgusting that something like that can happen in this day and age. You think staff would realise the importance of insulin. I hope the staff member that wrongly advised him at check in gets the sack. And here's hoping he gets re-imbursed for his hospital and medical bills.
__________________ Dx - Feb 1982
Using Humalog and Lantus
Last HbA1c 8.8 (July 2006)
 |
11-01-2006, 04:11 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 7,833
| | So... Insulin would have stopped his heart attack?  |
11-01-2006, 04:17 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth UK
Posts: 1,573
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyborg  So... Insulin would have stopped his heart attack? | I didn't see any mention of a heart attack?
It's discusting that this can happen tho. I had a short argument with the checkin girl in Canada when we were on our way home who was telling me I couldn't take my glucogel onboard. After telling her I was going to anyway she told me that security would have the final say... I didn't bother telling them i was diabetic, or that i had any needles or anything in my bad and it all went through fine! I even walked through the metal detector with my Meditag on and it didn't go off!!
__________________ Stu 
Type 1 Since - 24/7/2006 HbA1c
13/10/2006 - 7.2%  | 15/12/2006 - 6.0%  | 29/06/2007 - 7.1% | 02/11/2007 - 7.8% | 29/02/2008 - 6.5%  | 07/08/2008 - 6.8
Insulin - Levemir and NovoRapid | Meter - Accu-Chek Compact Plus GT  Pasta is a gift that just keeps giving... |
11-01-2006, 04:23 AM
| | Ex-moderator
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dubai, UAE
Posts: 3,019
| | | Something's up with this. You don't go into DKA and coma because you're unable to get to your insulin for a half-hour hop over. I smell a very large rat - either he went into hypoglycaemia (in which case insulin would be the last thing he would need) or he's been running hyperglycaemic for some time, which means he'd have ended up in a coma anyway. |
11-01-2006, 04:26 AM
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,537
| | | Or it was a heart attack. |
11-01-2006, 04:28 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth UK
Posts: 1,573
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by DeusXM Something's up with this. You don't go into DKA and coma because you're unable to get to your insulin for a half-hour hop over. I smell a very large rat - either he went into hypoglycaemia (in which case insulin would be the last thing he would need) or he's been running hyperglycaemic for some time, which means he'd have ended up in a coma anyway. | The man has a point! I missed that!
__________________ Stu
Type 1 Since - 24/7/2006 HbA1c
13/10/2006 - 7.2% | 15/12/2006 - 6.0% | 29/06/2007 - 7.1% | 02/11/2007 - 7.8% | 29/02/2008 - 6.5% | 07/08/2008 - 6.8
Insulin - Levemir and NovoRapid | Meter - Accu-Chek Compact Plus GT Pasta is a gift that just keeps giving... |
11-01-2006, 04:32 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lower Templestowe, Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 2,909
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by DeusXM Something's up with this. You don't go into DKA and coma because you're unable to get to your insulin for a half-hour hop over. I smell a very large rat - either he went into hypoglycaemia (in which case insulin would be the last thing he would need) or he's been running hyperglycaemic for some time, which means he'd have ended up in a coma anyway. | Agreed... The guy must have been DKA or close on already. And IMHO, he should have had a drs letter stating that he was carrying insulin and why. I never even fly to Sydney without a letter from my doc.
Latest news (5 mins ago on TV) is that QANTAS have changed their "policy" and will "now" allow insulin on board...
I find the whole incident rather odd...
__________________
For the eyes are signs of the soul within
Of the heart that is real, and true
- A.B. "Banjo" Paterson |
11-01-2006, 04:32 AM
| | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Posts: 162
| | | maybe he had a brain anurism. And now that i think about it - who spends two weeks in hospital with DKA????
__________________ Dx - Feb 1982
Using Humalog and Lantus
Last HbA1c 8.8 (July 2006)
|
11-01-2006, 04:32 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 7,833
| | Musta been a sugar attack...  |
11-01-2006, 04:33 AM
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manassas, in the Old Dominion
Posts: 6,519
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyborg So... Insulin would have stopped his heart attack? | No, but oxygen, if properly administered, can stop a number of things, including hypoglycemia...  |
11-01-2006, 04:35 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: UK
Posts: 799
| | | I have to question the Blokes soundnes of mind.
Pardon the sacasim sp! but how many of you would be parted from life saving insulin on a flight any way?
I can assure you if someone told me I could not have my life giving drugs with me then I would not be going on that plane.
As Deux says a large rat is smelt somewhere.
__________________
Sue
Pumping using bovine insulin. (Pump kindly donated by Solox)
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11-01-2006, 04:37 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lower Templestowe, Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 2,909
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by CycloneKitty maybe he had a brain anurism. And now that i think about it - who spends two weeks in hospital with DKA???? | ***raises hand***
Easy Kaitlyn... especially if you've been comatose...
__________________
For the eyes are signs of the soul within
Of the heart that is real, and true
- A.B. "Banjo" Paterson |
11-01-2006, 04:37 AM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1.5 | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cambridge, England
Posts: 407
| | | I've flown even recently with insulin and never been questioned.
If I were not allowed on board with it I simply wouldn't fly. It's as simple as that.
__________________
Type 1.5 Diabetic since July 2005
Age 40
On Lantus & Novorapid
Recent A1C: 6.2% MySpace profile |
11-01-2006, 04:37 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth UK
Posts: 1,573
| | | why does everyone pick on the rats? lol Their cute!
__________________ Stu
Type 1 Since - 24/7/2006 HbA1c
13/10/2006 - 7.2% | 15/12/2006 - 6.0% | 29/06/2007 - 7.1% | 02/11/2007 - 7.8% | 29/02/2008 - 6.5% | 07/08/2008 - 6.8
Insulin - Levemir and NovoRapid | Meter - Accu-Chek Compact Plus GT Pasta is a gift that just keeps giving... |
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