Do I Need To Tell The Airlines I Have Parkinson's
You've probably read the story about how Alaska Airlines refused to let a woman with Cancer fly with them.
She told an Alaskan employee that she might be feeling weak on the flight and the next thing she knew, her family was escorted off the plane. She was told she needed a doctor's note stating she was capable of making the trip from Hawaii across the Pacific Ocean. Welcome to 3rd grade.
Pretty outrageous behavior and a total invasion of privacy. Where does this leave the rest of us with a chronic disease?
I recently flew round trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. I never considered telling anyone I have Parkinson's Disease. Maybe I should have. I'm probably more dangerous than the woman with Cancer.
On the return trip, I spilled a little of my water. It landed on the woman sitting next to me. I apologized a couple of times and she was very gracious. Had she known in advance she was sitting next to some with Parkinson's she might have been able to protect herself...maybe. She also may have wanted to be seated elsewhere.
Plus what about when I walk down the aisle towards the bathroom? What if I lose my balance and fall into another passenger? How do we protect them from a possible dangerous situation?
I'm sure you realize I'm being facetious but you never know what will happen next. Will this set a precedent? You feel ill, bring a doctor's note with you to the airport. Everything from the common cold to multiple mylenoma. I'm more scared of sitting next to someone with a cold.
Since the story broke the airline has backed down. They returned the family's ticket money and paid for their overnight expenses. Nice but a little late, especially since she missed her chemotherapy appointment.
Thinking about this, I realize it's a good thing I waited to get back from Los Angeles to get my Melanoma treated. I might still be in L.A.
April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Read more stories about PD here.
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