John Cutting

Update to this:

They abandoned the project. The assumption is that a federal ban will go into effect by this time next year either through the scotus or a Trump presidency.

------------------ original toot ----------------

A passenger airline client is developing the complicated scheduling tools to ensure that pregnant employees can minimize working in states with actively dangerous restrictions on reproductive healthcare. Pilots also need to rethink where to divert if a passenger has a prenatal medical emergency.
The nearest airports are not necessarily places where care can be provided. This is a major safety, moral, and reputational risk, and it's damned shameful that we have medical "dead zones" in America

Jul 31, 2023 at 8:33pmWeb
Show threadJohn CuttingJan 31, 2024

Update to this:

They abandoned the project. The assumption is that a federal ban will go into effect by this time next year either through the scotus or a Trump presidency.

Show threadJohn CuttingJan 31, 2024
This is why Mastodon needs a 'quote post' function. I'm getting 10 new boosts of the original for every one boost of the update.
Show threadKorma ChameleonJan 31, 2024
@jcutting this is why you should use uspol content warnings. You people are complaining expecting international sympathy for policies you choose to vote for
Show threadFemme MalheureuseJan 31, 2024

@jcutting I share a screenshot of the original and a link to it in AltText to get around the lack of a quote post.

Thanks for letting us know about the project. I need to get to work with younger women voters on turn out.

Show threadNetuxJan 31, 2024
@jcutting terrifying.
Show threadDoug Baker - Elbows Up! 🇨🇦Jan 31, 2024
@jcutting #MargaretAtwood (Handmaid's Tale): "Everything I write has already happened somewhere".
Show threadCatherine SchmidtJan 31, 2024
@jcutting a federal ban on abortion? Not sure how they could do that. Can’t pass legislation …it would get out of the Senate and Biden would veto…so??? Am I missing something? Thanks
Show threadJohn CuttingJan 31, 2024
@lillyfinch
There's an election where Biden is determined to mismanage any goodwill in key swing states and there are shamelessly bribable theocrats on the scotus bench. When I put on my consultant hat, I can't blame them for the decision. It's a super complicated problem, and there's a good chance that effort will be wasted.
Show threadCatherine SchmidtJan 31, 2024
@jcutting well, respectfully I disagree about Biden. SCOTUS is tragically political and not wise. However, as things are now, there can’t be a complete ban on abortion. If Trump and the republicans get in with both houses…it will be moot. Women will become property and have no rights at all.
Show threadJoshJan 31, 2024

@lillyfinch @jcutting However one feels about how Biden is doing, this assumption is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard.

There are very good reasons to assume the Democrats will do well in November, despite early polling before the nominees are finalized.

But assuming that won’t be the case, you’d need an expanded Republican House, a Trump presidency, and a Republican Senate ready to abandon the filibuster.

I am not saying it’s impossible, but there is no way it is the most likely outcome. Not being a Pollyanna; being realistic.

Show threadCatherine SchmidtJan 31, 2024
@Nizdar @jcutting I agree with you. I was merely pointing out it can’t happen now and likely won’t after 2024 because a federal law will be passed to protect women’s rights. IF it goes dark side, I stand by what I said. Here in Texas they have made it clear what they think of women and if you know fascist history it can and has happened. Please do not use the word stupid. There is no reason to be rude.
Show threadJoshJan 31, 2024

@lillyfinch @jcutting Just to be clear, I was not calling you stupid. I was agreeing with you, essentially.

I was calling the assumption that there is no reason to fight or plan because abortion is definitely going to be made federally illegal stupid.

If you are scolding me for calling that part stupid, I mean, I don’t know what to tell you.

Show threadCatherine SchmidtJan 31, 2024
@Nizdar @jcutting sorry for the misunderstanding standing. No one should take anything for granted. Everyone needs to vote for the constitution and rule of law not for thugs.🙃
Show threadJoshJan 31, 2024
@lillyfinch From your lips to God’s ears.
Show threadCatherine SchmidtJan 31, 2024
@Nizdar 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏🙏
Show threadRo Laren RED57🥄💩🦨🍈🍊🤡Jan 31, 2024

@jcutting

Boosted the update. As a travel professional, thank you for highlighting this issue.

Horrified at this, as I book travel for hundreds of people a year or more. Good for that client for even thinking of this.

Show threadRandom SeedJul 31, 2023
@jcutting We've been hearing about 'food/grocery deserts' for a few years now. This appears to be the new trend - medical and ethical deserts.
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@Rand
This has definitely impacted my partners' (who work in the airline industry) and my decision to not have any more kids.
Show threadRandom SeedAug 1, 2023
@jcutting I'm having nightmares about what my kids are going to face in their lifetimes. The youngest are turning 15 this year.
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@Rand
I feel you. My youngest is 4. I can't find it anymore but there was an old Reddit (?) Post about how Gen Zers don't expect good things to happen any more and it resonates with me still.
Show threadJohn CuttingFeb 1, 2024
@Rand
Update: 45 days later, I knocked up my wife. Oops.
Show threadCoach Pāṇini ®Feb 1, 2024
@Rand @jcutting
Show threadAlexander The 1stJul 31, 2023
@jcutting There's "Flyover Country", and there's "Medically Necessary to Flyover Country", I guess?
Show threadAlexander The 1stFeb 1, 2024

@jcutting Seeing the update to this now - I guess this means the entire U.S. becomes "Medically Necessary to Flyover Country"?

That's going to mess with Canada -> Mexico flights, and probably a lot of larger flights that happen to cross over the U.S. normally.

Show threadbancksJul 31, 2023
@jcutting unimaginably grim times…
Show threadJudith PakosinskiJul 31, 2023
@jcutting
Omg. Imagine being a pregnant person in the midst of a miscarriage while flying over a state where a doctor might be so afraid of legal consequences they might let you die rather than perform an abortion to save your life.
Or perform the procedure so late your health or fertility is permanently impaired.
Show threadThe Flight AttendantJul 31, 2023
@jcutting Wish this was my airline but I highly doubt it is. I'm currently trying to conceive and VERY worried about this precise thing. Reproductive healthcare impacts everyone in all 50 states whether we want to acknowledge it, or not
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@CosmicTraveler
(If you can afford it and if you have the minimum hours to qualify) I would recommend you take FMLA as soon as you conceive. Good luck!
Show threadJanisFeb 1, 2024
@jcutting @CosmicTraveler It doesn't work that way. FMLA is way too limited in it's raw form, and is pretty much putty in an employer's hands. (I had to take 12 weeks for pre-term labor, and ended up back at work, on my feet 100% and literally running, two days after delivery... with 3rd-degree epesiotomy stitches.)
Show thread0xd34db33fAug 1, 2023

@jcutting it's fine because pilots should be thinking of incredibly stupid things in an emergency!!!

Would this open everyone involved to lawsuits from the passengers family if anything other than optimum care for the passenger is given in this circumstance?

As you say, shameful.

Show threadGed MaheuxAug 1, 2023
@jcutting @siracusa No worries. If republicans get there way it won’t matter where they land at all.
Show threadDerekodonAug 1, 2023

@gedeonm @jcutting @siracusa "Finest health care system in the world" Hahahahahaha

Also - Ged is right on...

Show threadSteve, M0LFOAug 1, 2023
@jcutting Good grief. As if scheduling wasn't hard enough. What a reaction.
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@hftouhf I don't think most people realize how hard of a problem scheduling is (mathematically, it's a n=np supercomputer problem to find a perfect solution).
I doubt the airline will implement the results of this study regarding pregnant employees, but it's encouraging that they're trying to get their arms around it and understand the scale of the problem.
I strongly believe they'll implement the guidance for diverting due to medical emergencies.
Show threadSteve, M0LFOAug 1, 2023
@jcutting It's fantastic they are at least doing something in an attempt to mitigate the risk to both employees and travellers, but very sad they have to. Scheduling is hard; multiple Salesman and Knapsack problems in one go. I might rather write multi-TZ calendering software.
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@hftouhf
Ooh you just made my skin crawl.
Show threadMcSpaddenAug 1, 2023
@jcutting damn never thought of this 😲
Show threadEleanor SaittaAug 1, 2023
@jcutting
Do you know if they're also applying that divert logic for trans passengers, or is it just an across the board change, not based on who they think the passenger is?
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@dymaxion
My understanding is that they want to have it handy for any medical emergency that is identified as these cases where the person might be unable to get care at the nearest divert airport (this diagnosis is obviously not always possible). The airlines use the same communication system for medical emergencies (the name escapes me) for both crew and passengers. So it should be 'agnostic' to the status of whoever is having an emergency
Show threadEleanor SaittaAug 1, 2023
@jcutting
Hmm. Good to know, but requires someone to out themselves to the flight crew (and be able to do so). Well, better than nothing.
Show threadDec [{()}]Aug 1, 2023
@jcutting
I'd say ACARS but that's general purpose, not just for emergencies. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACARS
ACARS - Wikipedia

Show threadEleanor SaittaAug 1, 2023
@dec23k @jcutting Not talking about the comms layer, but about how they choose which airports are candidates for non-flight-emergency diversions.
Show threadDec [{()}]Aug 1, 2023

@dymaxion @jcutting
I was just trying to fill in the "name escapes me" part.

There might be a different comms layer for emergency use. I don't know.

It might even be encrypted.

Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@dec23k
@dymaxion yeah, the pilots will talk with doctors midflight to get guidance for a medical emergency. Part of this effort is to update MOUs and best practices with those medical professionals about their recommendations for medical emergencies.
Show threadEleanor SaittaAug 1, 2023
@jcutting @dec23k Interesting — how much of it is human judgement and how much of it is pre-structured?
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@dymaxion
@dec23k that's beyond my field of expertise sadly. Most flights you will have some constraints (endurance, range, minimum available runway lengths, is fuel available at divert site, etc) that will inform most divert decisions. Availability of care is a new wrinkle
For example, a flight from SFO to Singapore recently turned around and flew 90 minutes to land back at SFO after a passenger had an issue. This was probably the best decision because other passengers could find new flights
Show threadEleanor SaittaAug 1, 2023
@jcutting @dec23k Yeah, all the rest of the constraint structure makes sense, and obviously the medical consultation is going to be a human call, either from the doctors or directly from the folks onboard. I'm assuming e.g. fuel status, endurance, etc., are all calculated so you get a candidate airport list... just curious about the bit after that. And yeah, that's obviously pretty deep into the operations layer.
Show threadmarlies Aug 1, 2023
@jcutting @siracusa wow, it’s good they’re doing this but absolutely awful they need to. I hope they’re taking the safety of transgender crew and passengers into account in the same way.
Show threadNorman WilsonAug 1, 2023
@jcutting I trust they're recovering the increased costs by raising first-class fares to and from the states that make this necessary.
Show threadOzzy ☮️Aug 1, 2023
@jcutting this is a thing in mighty USA @SrRochardBunson ??
Show threadAustin Nunn 🏳️‍🌈🏁Aug 1, 2023
@jcutting better idea. Mandatory doctors on all airplanes! /s
Show threadmikiAug 1, 2023
@jcutting How was this not a concern with international flights already? There are far worse places on Earth than any U.S. state when human rights are concerned, see the whole Protasevich affair for example. Why is the US so special here? Are there political motivations at play?
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@miki
If a risk to crew and passengers is identified, then there is a responsibility to mitigate that risk. The whataboutism doesn't change the fact that this is a new risk for domestic flights and new procedures need to be considered.
Show threadmikiAug 1, 2023
@jcutting My question still stands. Why haven’t those procedures been introduced for international flights, particularly when flying over countries with… a less than stellar human rights record, even though we have actual examples of abuses that happened because of a lack of such procedures? The situation in the US is not great, but it’s far better than in many other countries, and I find it puzzling that anybody who genuinely cared about this problem and whose motivations weren’t purely political would start with the US specifically.
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@miki
You're assuming they aren't when that is definitely a consideration when making divert decisions. International flights are actually simpler in this respect. The problem is exponentially harder for domestic flights due to the frequency and downstream impacts. It's like comparing arithmetic and p=np.
I don't know what else to tell you.
Show threadAlexandre MorinAug 1, 2023
@jcutting and that is why this affects everyone, everywhere.
It’s not just about abortion.
It’s not just in some states.
If you are pregnant, you now need to avoid flying over certain states in case you encounter pregnancy issues while in-flight. No matter where you live.
Show threadWhatTheChelAug 1, 2023
@jcutting Friend works for a company that is working on a similar policy to allow pregnant employees who have to travel for work to opt out of certain places. Sad times.
Show threadJohn CuttingAug 1, 2023
@WhatTheChel
That's great. I hope they also think about the knock-on effects of this as well. I have a client who did this but basically started giving the "crap," low-prestige assignments to the pregnant workers who weren't willing to travel. This caused a brain drain of some of their best workers and a huge loss of trust/confidence with management.
They tried to do the right thing but they didn't think it through all the way. It's tough!
Show threadWhatTheChelAug 1, 2023
@jcutting Yes, that's an important point! I will say that it's still a small enough company that the ceo, who I know is trying to do the right thing, can hopefully make sure that doesn't happen. But that's going to require a lot of vigilance for sure.
Show threadAdamas NemesisAug 2, 2023
@jcutting Indeed.