Doctor Alleges Racial Profiling On Indiana Delta Flight

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — A doctor on a Delta Air Lines flight from Indianapolis to Boston Tuesday said she was racially profiled by two flight attendants and her credentials were questioned while she helped a sick passenger, according to CNN. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a physician who is also an expert in obesity medicine, told CNN she was on the flight when a female passenger sitting next to her began to shake and hyperventilate, and Stanford began assisting her.

Stanford told CNN that a flight attendant came by and asked if she was a doctor, to which Stanford replied yes. She said a second flight attendant appeared and asked for her medical license. Stanford showed her license to the flight attendant before both returned and asked if the license belonged to her, an exchange the doctor described to CNN as "bewildering."

Stanford said she was able to continue helping the sick passenger, but took to social media after the flight to share more, including a response from Delta Air Lines, which Stanford said "Truly stings."

@DeltaAirlineUS I am very disappointed that your policies on #Diversity have not lead to any change. As a #blackwoman #doctor who showed my #medical license to help a passenger on DL5935 your #flightattendant still did not believe I was a #Physician. @DrSinhaEsq @DrKathyHughes
— Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP (@fstanfordmd) October 31, 2018

Delta responded to Stanford and said, "I am so sorry for your frustration Dr. Stanford. Please know that Delta does not condone discrimination for any reason and we take your comments very seriously. We are looking into further and will be reaching out to you directly. HTD— Delta."

Stanford also said on social media that after speaking with Delta Air Lines she left the conversation "quite uncertain" that changes will be made, because although Delta told her the situation will be addressed, the airlines said the flight attendants thought Stanford "was a therapist" despite her medical license.

Doctor @fstanfordmd says she was racially profiled while trying to help fellow @Delta passenger https://t.co/8yfnNBoH2f via @CNN @GiselaCres #WhatADoctorLooksLike #thatsbias #BlackWomenInMedicine
— Michael Sinha MD, JD, MPH (@DrSinhaEsq) November 1, 2018

Photo: Charles Krupa/Associated Press