Delta Airlines Slammed for Discrimination against Black Female Doctor
After the incident aboard a Delta Airline flight on Sunday involving Dr. Tamika Cross, the chief OBGYN resident at the Harris Health Lyndon B Johnson Hospital and a Delta Flight attendant who didn't believe she was a Doctor, Delta Airlines have commenced an investigation to find out what really happened and why the attendant acted the way she did.
See what transpired between Dr Cross and The Flight Attendant.Read her experience
"I'm sure many of my fellow young, corporate America working women of color can all understandmy frustration when I say I'm sick of being disrespected.Was on Delta flight DL945 and someone 2 rows in front of me was screaming for help. Her husband was unresponsive. I naturally jumped into Doctor mode as no one else was getting up. Unbuckle my seatbelt and throw my tray table up and as I'm aboutto stand up, flight attendant says "everyone stay calm, it's just a night terror, he is alright". I continue to watch the scene closely.A couple mins later he is unresponsive again and the flight attendant yells "call overhead for a physician on board". I raised my hand to grab her attention. She said to me "oh no sweetie put ur hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nursesor some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you" I tried to inform her that I was a physician but I was continually cut off by condescending remarks.Then overhead they paged "any physician on board please press your button". I stare at her as I go to press my button. She said "oh wow you're an actual physician?" I reply yes. She said "let me see your credentials. What type of Doctor are you? Where do you work? Why were you in Detroit?" (Please remember this man is still in need of help and she isblocking my row from even standing up while Bombarding me with questions).I respond "OBGYN, work in Houston, in Detroit for a wedding, but believe it or not they DO HAVE doctors in Detroit. Now excuse me so I can help the man in need". Another "seasoned" white male approaches the row and says he is a physician as well. She says to me "thanks for your help but he can help us, and he has his credentials". (Mind you he hasn't shown anything to her. Just showed up and fit the"description of a doctor") I stay seated. Mind blown. Blood boiling. (Man is responding the his questions and is seemingly better now Thank God)Then this heifer has the nerve to ask for my input on what to do next about 10 mins later. I tell her we need vitals and blood sugar. She comes back to report to me a BP of 80/50 (super low, to my non medical peeps) and they can't find a glucometer. Wecontinue down that pathway of medical work up, but the point is she needed my help and I continued to help despite the choice words I had saved up for her. The patient and his wife weren't the problem, they needed help and we were mid flight.She came and apologized to me several times and offering me skymiles. I kindly refused. This is going higher than her. I don't want skymiles in exchange for blatant discrimination. Whether this was race, age, gender discrimination, it's not right. She will not get away with this....and I will still get my skymiles...."
She is the chief OBGYN resident Doctor at the Harris Health Lyndon B Johnson Hospital. Dr. Cross is completing her fourth and final year in the residency program at the renown McGovern Medical School at the University Of Texas Health Science Center in Houston Texas.
Delta Spokeswoman, Catherine Siena stated, “Discrimination of any kind is never acceptable. We've been in contact with Dr. Cross and one of our senior leaders is reaching out to assure her that we're completing a full investigation.”
See what transpired between Dr Cross and The Flight Attendant.Read her experience
"I'm sure many of my fellow young, corporate America working women of color can all understandmy frustration when I say I'm sick of being disrespected.Was on Delta flight DL945 and someone 2 rows in front of me was screaming for help. Her husband was unresponsive. I naturally jumped into Doctor mode as no one else was getting up. Unbuckle my seatbelt and throw my tray table up and as I'm aboutto stand up, flight attendant says "everyone stay calm, it's just a night terror, he is alright". I continue to watch the scene closely.A couple mins later he is unresponsive again and the flight attendant yells "call overhead for a physician on board". I raised my hand to grab her attention. She said to me "oh no sweetie put ur hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nursesor some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you" I tried to inform her that I was a physician but I was continually cut off by condescending remarks.Then overhead they paged "any physician on board please press your button". I stare at her as I go to press my button. She said "oh wow you're an actual physician?" I reply yes. She said "let me see your credentials. What type of Doctor are you? Where do you work? Why were you in Detroit?" (Please remember this man is still in need of help and she isblocking my row from even standing up while Bombarding me with questions).I respond "OBGYN, work in Houston, in Detroit for a wedding, but believe it or not they DO HAVE doctors in Detroit. Now excuse me so I can help the man in need". Another "seasoned" white male approaches the row and says he is a physician as well. She says to me "thanks for your help but he can help us, and he has his credentials". (Mind you he hasn't shown anything to her. Just showed up and fit the"description of a doctor") I stay seated. Mind blown. Blood boiling. (Man is responding the his questions and is seemingly better now Thank God)Then this heifer has the nerve to ask for my input on what to do next about 10 mins later. I tell her we need vitals and blood sugar. She comes back to report to me a BP of 80/50 (super low, to my non medical peeps) and they can't find a glucometer. Wecontinue down that pathway of medical work up, but the point is she needed my help and I continued to help despite the choice words I had saved up for her. The patient and his wife weren't the problem, they needed help and we were mid flight.She came and apologized to me several times and offering me skymiles. I kindly refused. This is going higher than her. I don't want skymiles in exchange for blatant discrimination. Whether this was race, age, gender discrimination, it's not right. She will not get away with this....and I will still get my skymiles...."
She is the chief OBGYN resident Doctor at the Harris Health Lyndon B Johnson Hospital. Dr. Cross is completing her fourth and final year in the residency program at the renown McGovern Medical School at the University Of Texas Health Science Center in Houston Texas.
Delta Spokeswoman, Catherine Siena stated, “Discrimination of any kind is never acceptable. We've been in contact with Dr. Cross and one of our senior leaders is reaching out to assure her that we're completing a full investigation.”
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