Responsibiltiy and duty of care

[Tas]

This is one that caught my eye, and figure there is more to this than no one trying.

http://m.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incid ... 2diay.html

Don't know if the case of morbid obesity was the cause of illness or other way around. But sounds like her health was always going to be an issue and potential problem with any travel.

Is it the responsibity of a commercial airline in this story with her established health problem - the staff are not medically trained for the possible problems in flight, or should the couple have appropriate insurance for a medivac situation and planned for risk (presuming they could get it...)

Just dunno, can you sue the heck out of the airlines for this situation?

[Fat Bob]

1: They should have had insurance which should be able to cover any medical emergencies including repatriation costs.

2: The lady should have thought twice about taking such a trip considering her state.

3: The couple should have purchased at least 2 seats for the lady, or a business class or first class seat.

It's down to the couple and only the couple.

[Tas]

Agree with first points, but regarding 3rd article does say they had purchased 2seats for the lady already, the issue appeared to have been about negotiating the wheel chair and her movements to and from the craft in article. The story lacks investigative content around insurance with repatriation - have to consider if she would have been eligible, have known several expat friends whose parents could not tavel due to health conditions making them ineligible and thus no trip. Which comes back to point 2 you make around risk. For which I can't see commercial airlines carrying that responsibilty.

[Fat Bob]

"Securing two seats" doesn't mean they purchased two seats. Maybe they were just lucky on the way out.

[avatarless]

Just curious, is there a difference between responsibility and duty? To my ear, they are the same...