機艙內緊急醫療之倫理法律議題

Ethical Legal Issues of Inflight Medical Emergencies

本文探討機艙內緊急醫療所面臨之倫理與法律議題，說明常見之機艙內緊急醫療問題、機上可運用資源、醫療人員之角色及可能伴隨之法律責任。儘管台灣並無法律規定醫師於非值勤期間有義務提供緊急醫療協助，但多數醫師可能認為自己倫理上有幫助之義務，而提供者可受到緊急醫療救護法之保障。近期國內航空公司推出之機上志工醫師專案，其設置之初衷立意良善，然而筆者指出為感謝醫師而預先提供之福利回饋措施，可能影響原本利他醫療行為之倫理評價及其連帶相關法律責任，值得關注其發展。最後提出醫療人員回應機艙內緊急醫療狀況之一般建議。

This paper investigates the ethical legal issues arising from inflight medical emergency. Common inflight medical emergencies, available resources on board, the role of medical providers, and possible legal liabilities are discussed. Although doctors are not legally required to render assistance for inflight medical emergency, most physicians may feel ethically obliged to. Who volunteer for medical assistance are legally protected by Emergency Medical Service Act in Taiwan. The ethical legal considerations for “Doctor on Board Program” launched by two major airlines companies in Taiwan recently are then explored. The program starts with good intentions by offering VIP membership to those who have registered to provide inflight medical assistance. However, we argue that such pre-arranged compensation might alter the ethical value and legal responsibility of altruistic medical conducts, whose further legal effect should be noticed. Finally, practice suggestions for inflight medical emergency are summarized.