Doctor tried to save fellow air passenger

A pediatrician with ties to New Hampshire jumped in to try to save a woman who later died Friday on an American Airlines flight from Haiti.

Dr. Joel Shulkin, who works at Children's Hospital in Boston, was aboard the New York-bound flight when passenger Carine Desir, who suffered from heart disease and diabetes, suddenly became ill.

"What he did to try to save Ms. Desir is what Joel Shulkin is all about. He's probably the most selfless person I know," said Shulkin's Portsmouth lawyer and longtime friend, Justin Nadeau.

Shulkin, who grew up in Windham and whose parents still live there, was traveling with a group of teachers from the Cotting School in Massachusetts when he said he heard a call for medical help over the plane's intercom.

Dr. Joel Shulkin, who grew up in Windham, had been working to help children at a school in Haiti, was traveling home when a fellow passenger was stricken on the plane. (COURTESY)

Desir's family has criticized American Airlines' handling of the in-flight emergency, claiming a flight attendant twice denied her requests for oxygen.

Her cousin, Antonio Oliver, was a passenger on the flight and has insisted that the flight attendant, doctors and two nurses tried to administer oxygen from two portable tanks, but he said they were empty.

American Airlines denied the accusations yesterday, saying Desir was helped by two flight attendants within three minutes of her first request for oxygen and that its equipment was working properly.

The 34-year-old Shulkin was among three doctors, two emergency medical technicians and two nurses who tried to help when the plea was made over the intercom.

Two emergency medical technicians performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Desir. Shulkin said he assisted with the use of a defibrillator, but that it wasn't successful because once the pads were applied, the rhythm of Desir's heartbeat "was not consistent with one that would respond to a shock."

Nadeau said Shulkin could not confirm the claim by Desir's cousin that the oxygen tanks weren't working.

Desir was pronounced dead by Shulkin, and the flight continued to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Shulkin said he was the only passenger on board who was a physician licensed in the United States. Others who assisted were licensed and certified, he said, but they were either not physicians or not licensed in the United States.

"I was mostly trying to assist with locating medications and operating assistive equipment as well as being available for consultation to the rest of the medical team," Shulkin said.

Shulkin has spoken with Desir's family since the fatal flight.

"I am tremendously affected by the tragic events of this flight, and I will continue to express my sincerest condolences to the family," he said.

Nadeau said he has known Shulkin since he was 18 and the two were freshmen at the University of New Hampshire together. They served on the Student Senate together and have remained good friends over the years.

"He's probably one of the most principled people I've ever met. He's caring and compassionate, and he's as honest as they come," Nadeau said.

Shulkin was returning after traveling to Haiti to help at a school where he acted as a medical adviser and assisted with the care of the children.

In addition to his work at Children's Hospital Boston, Shulkin's medical experience includes working at a developmental clinic as a general practitioner while stationed in Germany during his time in the Air Force.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.