Doctor charges bias on Delta flight from Detroit
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Delta Air Lines planes were parked at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in Washington, on Aug. 8.
DETROIT » At first, all Dr. Tamika Cross wanted to do was get home to Houston after a wedding in Detroit.
But while on a Delta Air Lines flight Sunday, Cross also wanted to act on the ideals of her profession — and assist a man a few seats ahead of her who was having a health crisis. Yet — as she relates on her Facebook page — Cross, who is African-American, got an unexpected rebuff from a flight attendant who doubted she was a physician.
The in-flight encounter, according to Cross, began when the sick man, after some initial yells for help, became unresponsive, prompting a flight attendant to shout, “Call overhead for a physician onboard.” As Dr. Cross recounts on her Facebook posting:
“I raised my hand to grab her attention. She said to me, ‘Oh no, sweetie. Put your hand down. We are looking for actual physicians or nurses or 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 onboard, 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 is blocking my row from even standing up while bombarding me with questions.)
“I respond, ob-gyn, 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.”
By that time, however, a white man approached the area and announces that he is a doctor, according to Cross’ posting.
“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.” According to her posting the attendant later apologized and offered her sky miles.
Cross is a fourth-year resident in the obstetrics-gynecology department of the University of Texas Health System in Houston, according to the school’s website — meaning she is licensed to practice medicine although not fully certified in her specialty. She did not respond Wednesday to email inquiries apparently because she was too busy, according to the health system’s media relations manager Deborah Lake.
“Dr. Cross has been in surgery or on the floor of the hospital all day,” Lake said.
Delta spokeswoman Liz Savadelis, reached at the airline’s headquarters in Atlanta, said the company was aware of the complaint by Dr. Cross and released the following statement: “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.”
41 responses to “Doctor charges bias on Delta flight from Detroit”
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Had this same attitude at the counter in Salt Lake City Airport 2 wks ago……I wanted to upgrade my seat and told the agent I was willing to pay more…….she wouldn’t even look at her screen and told me “Sorry, we have no more seats”……I think she was just lazy and was waiting for standbys to fill those seats.
Unless there’s more to your situation I think it’s quite a lot different than the discrimination/stereotyping this lady/doctor encountered. Your situation seems like laziness and/or ulterior motives.
BLACK LIES MATTER !!!
so if my daughter, who is a tiny asian girl and a pilot, comes walking in would they stop her and tell her she’s not the pilot and they are waiting for the REAL pilot to come onboard? GEEZ!
Maybe, if the gate agent knew the whole story of the inequalities of pilot hiring in the U.S. As a woman, especially an asian woman, you have an easy path into the airlines. It doesn’t matter if you can actually fly well, or can make good decisions. It’s all about checking a box. So to answer your question, probably a good idea to wait for the real pilot.
A tiny asian girl cannot hold a commercial pilot license. Minimum height requirements are from 5foot 4 inches and up at most airlines. So how tall is your “tiny”offspring?
There was a slim 5 foot 3 inch Asian female (maybe shorter) pilot flying an nterisland jet for Hawaiian Air. She was okay, as the plane felt no different from older Caucasian male pilots. No, it was not Tasha Kobashigawa.
Actually in my experience, landings are a lot smoother when there’s a female captain of the plane. Without even knowing who’s flying, I can tell by the landing if it was a male or female pilot. (most of the time) Lots of excellent female aviators out there. Sure wish there were more of them.
Wow! Think of opposite day for a moment. Say a male said the same thing; imagine the backlash and feminist outrage. Funny how the so called ‘activists’ can spew their hate and it all “G”.
No they are not.
Just a case of 1, that’s one, stupid person. Bravo to the Dr for being willing and able to provide assistance.
Big time losers! Never judge a person by their looks! This Doctor’s features can pass for an interracial person, competent professional woman like she is. Perhaps her beauty, gender and credibility were too much for the airlines personnels to absorb!
I was thinking maybe she thought she was too young and pretty to be a doctor.
She does look young, and her Facebook pic is kind of glam. In the photo with the doctor’s coat, she does look like she belongs in a hospital, but still a little young.
I wonder how that flight attendant would have behaved had Doogie Howser been the doctor…
This is so racist. Ughhhh.
I hope Delta does a full investigation.
Honestly you can’t blame Delta. It is one ignorant employee and she should be fired.If she is not , then blame Delta because they would be condoning racism.
An employee’s behavior under the scope of their employment represents his or her employee. The company is responsible for their actions. If a civil suit is filed the company is held liable. It falls under recruitment, training and supervision.
It’ll be very hard to prove there was any racial discrimination and even if there was I’m not sure what the consequences would be for anyone involved. There could very well be a racial aspect to this. There could also be a lot of other factors too, such as age, dress, maybe gender. If there were a young guy dressed as a bum on the flight the flight attendant might not have believed he was a doctor either. Bottom line, this is another situation for the different factions in this country to argue about. 20 years ago this story would have never made it out of the airport.
She was not dressed as a bum.
Delta has a history of being stupid. I am a paraplegic and when I returned to Hawaii last year for a funeral I waited for them to bring an aisle chair to get me from the back of the plane. 45 minutes after we landed the cleaning crew call security. The flight crew had left without helping me. It took another hour to find an aisle chair from a different carrier to get me out of the plane. Guess I was just a burden!
Best to dress well on the airlines for better service and start your trip on a good note.
Problem is that Blacks suffer from bad image. People are biased because of their worse than average records and statistics.
First of all: well-done! I’ve come to the conclusion that you have to be a left-leaning genius who posts here daily to stir up sentiment against the ignorant backwash of this country.
Still, you should tone it down a bit. As presented, your comments are a tad too over the top to have come from a genuine racist xenophobe. Seriously, you’re coming off as a caricature.
Still, I applaud your efforts.
So why do you think so many people are biased against blacks but much less or not at all against other minorities?
I dunno, why?
Dude, can’t you see when someone’s giving you a compliment? The target-rich nature of your daily posts really fires up the troops. Keep up the good work.
Now, go post something under the Kansas story… Maybe, repeat that “one man’s terrorist” thing and go off about how bombs, “militias,” hate speech and murder are points against every race but the wannabe perpetrators in that case.
As I said, keep plugging away. You’re doing great.
mineeyes, it shouldn’t matter how you’re dressed to receive equal service that you paid for. For long flights, 6 hrs +, I dress for comfort not style, even in 1st class. Level of service not predicated by how you look. In this case, Delta was biased toward the woman physician and should be held accountable.
In the ole days, flight attendants had class! Nowadays if you’ve got big breast and willing to show them-off, you qualify!
“Ole days” like in this 1966 employment ad: “A high school graduate, single (widows and divorcees with no children considered), 20 years of age (girls 19 1/2 may apply for future consideration). 5’2″ but no more than 5’9″, weight 105 to 135 in proportion to height and have at least 20/40 vision without glasses.”
Good Ole Days of age discrimination, weight requirements, and bans on marriage. 🙁
Paula Deen’s sister is a flight attendant?
Shame on Delta. Arrogant know it all stewardess ( wannabe flight attendants ) are often found on Delta Flights. I have encountered a few of these bimbos on Delta.
They need training and better screening of applicants to become flight attendants.
Delta’s main US hub is Atlanta, Georgia, the Deep South, some are die hard confederate flag supporters,…you get the drift. You have to expect the flight attendants, especially the older ones, born and raised in the south, full on Trump supporters and hates Obama, are going to have their Paula Deen moment, sooner or later. Just have Delta publicly apologize and say they will now have mandatory race sensitivity training for their flight attendants and when they ask for a doctor don’t judge the person who stands up by their age, sex, ethnic background, however they should ask what kind of doctor they are and where they practice medicine. Also give this female doctor free first class upgrades for an entire year on Delta.
Dr. Cross was upset by how she was treated by the flight attendants (rightfully so). Just found it fitting that her name was “Cross”. Reminds me of a “Three’s Company” episode where John Ritter tells a man “Why, mommy spank you?” (The man’s last name was Cross).
Dunno what was going on in the minds of the flight attendants, but when cruising at 30,000 feet, there’s no ambulance. When a doctor steps forward to help, let ‘um help! No time for BS. Now if the lady stepped forward and started doing some freaky stuff, then step in and question her credentials.
DELTA =
Don’t
Ever
Leave
The
Airport
Actually the first thing that comes to mind for the name Dr Cross are the movies Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls starring Morgan Freeman. Freeman provided a very compelling and competent character that happens to be African American.
That Flight Attendant is in the deepest of Kim Chee … DL Flight Attendants are non-union so she will be at the mercy of the company of which there will be none !!!!!
I recently experienced the same issue. Again a medical emergency inflight asking for a nurse of doctor. Being An RN I volunteered to help. I was told that a nurse was already with the passenger. I am male, Hawaiian, 6 feet tall and 300 pounds of mostly muscle. I look like a line backer but I am still a nurse. My experience is in emergency nursing both hospital and prehospital with 28 years of experience. Because I don’t fit the typical nurse profile the flight attendant said they didn’t need my help. Happens all time. I cannnot tell you how many times people judge me by my appearance, always looking for the nurse when they see me.
I’m sure you’ve had many a post-op patient who’s appreciated your muscles as much as your expertise.
Let’s face it folks, we live in a racist country. It is perpetuated in politics…..focusing on blacks, hispanics, whites, etc. for votes. We try to hide our prejudices, but they’re there, always have been and looks like they will always be part of this country.
Nah, not always. Just read the story about the three arrested in the foiled terrorist plot in Kansas. Not one disparaging word about their race to be found. In fact, the comment section under that story probably has the lowest poster turnout this whole week.
What more proof could one possibly need that we live in the most tolerant place on earth with the most evolved thinkers?
Years ago, when applying for jobs, there was a familiar rhyme saying: “If you’re white, you’re all right. If you’re brown, stick aroun(d). If you’re black, stand back” . Have we progressed?
I guessed it was Delta.