Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi, a doctor by profession (and national Health Minister between 2014 and 2019), put his medical training to good use earlier this week when a passenger suffered a low blood sugar emergency on a flight from East London to Johannesburg.
“I was sleeping and woke up when I heard a commotion … someone had suffered a drop in blood sugar and the crew was struggling to give him a sugar solution. They were looking for someone to attend to the emergency, so I said I was a doctor,” Motsoaledi told TimesLIVE.
“They told me to produce papers but I’m no longer practising. Even when someone on the plane told them I was a doctor, the cabin crew were still very doubtful.”
Motsoaledi then rubbed glucose powder on to the passenger’s tongue, “and it was immediately absorbed”.
“That’s the training from back when you relied on clinical acumen and judgment. There’s no equipment on the plane. You rely on what you know.”
The passenger was disorientated for the rest of the flight, he added. “When I went to say goodbye, his wife told me she would take him to hospital.”
There were various social media posts about his intervention.
Makhosini Mgitywa wrote: “…a passenger had a medical emergency. I heard someone shout, ‘He’s not breathing’. The crew reacted swiftly to manage the crisis. Two doctors sprang into action, and stabilised the patient, assisted by the crew, who were superb.
“Passengers started clapping. I don’t know who the first doctor was, but … the second doctor was Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. I thank them for their service.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Under-fire Motsoaledi deploys 200 in nationwide intervention
‘Mini-strokes’ need urgent assessment and follow-ups – AHA
Critical Skills List: ‘Vocal’ Motsoaledi has changed his tune