"Not an Amtrak Fan" saw the case of Mr Sims being thrown off the train in a forest as similar enough to mine to comment. As an RN I know that the symptoms of insulin shock and of blood sugars that are way too high historically are often mistaken in patients as drunkeness. There's sometimes an acetone smell to their breath or a fruity sweet smell that is mistaken for alcohol consumption. Even if Mr Sims had one or two drinks, as a newly diagnosed diabetic he may not have realized his new inability to process alcohol as easily also.
All of the above is true, I agree. The problem here is that if indeed this man was suffering from a sugar imbalance, how did he survive in the wilderness for 4 days with no clothes, no money, and no food or water. If his capacity to deal with sugar was that badly impaired to the point that he appeared drunk, then while I hate to say it, why isn't he dead from insulin shock? People can die within hours of experiencing a major sugar imbalance, who did he last 4 days?
2. Traveling on a disability discounted ticket needs to ensure that the patient's medical needs are addressed! A licensed physician is the only qualified person cabable of determining what the patient needs and this policy of letting CONDUCTORS with no medical training make judgement calls involving passenger health. If a passenger does not disclose his disability to Amtrak staff, this is another story entirely but in my case and I believe in the Sims case, Amtrak staff was made very aware of our compromised health status. Just because I may "look okay" to some conductor taking issue with me, doesn't mean I can be expected to endure the physical and emotional consequences of being removed from the train the same as "healthy" or even "average" passengers. I'm not allowed because of my health to work so why was I expected to be strong enough to scramble home from Provo to San Francisco after being ripped from a sound sleep and forced to terminate the trip I'd already paid for? And indeed I still suffer the consequences physically, emotionally, and financially more so than a guy my age without my debilitating diagnosis would have. Same with Mr Sims! Only a doctor should be allowed to decide what a disabled passenger is capable of tolerating, not an under educated train worker!
First, I rather doubt that Mr. Sims disclosed his condition to Amtrak. He was only diagnosed the day before he departed on the train. Is it possible? Sure, I have to allow for that. But again, I think it highly unlikely. In fact I rather suspect that he may well have been in denial at that point, which may well mean that he had indeed gotten himself legally drunk.
However, even if we assume that I'm dead wrong and indeed he was suffering from a sugar imbalance here's my question to you. You've already quite clearly stated that the Conductors have no medical training, which by the way I believe isn't true as they all have to take first aid courses, but even if correct, what would you have them do? They have a passenger that they aren't medically qualified to help.
If they did realize that he was suffering from low blood sugar, they can’t force him to drink juice. And they certainly can’t inject him with a dose of glucose, assuming that he was carrying one. If he had gone the other way, too much sugar, even if they find his insulin, they can't legally give it to him. And remember, he was diagnosed the day before he set out on this trip, so it’s unlikely that he was carrying anything. So what would you rather have them do, let the guy annoy all of the other passengers on the train until he collapses into a diabetic shock? Then haul off the dead body to the dining car and put it in the freezer. Or call the local police and have them deal with it?
No, I think in the case above that the correct answer is to call the police and have the man taken off so that he can be properly evaluated and treated as necessary, whether that means giving him sugar or a night in a jail cell. Amtrak can't call the hospital, since they wouldn't know what one to call and they can't legally put someone off the train into the custody of an EMT.
Second, I for one have to wonder why the police didn't give chase to the man. They were there. He didn't start running until after he saw the policeman coming his way. Even worse, the police didn't even start looking for this guy, until the next day when the family informed them of his medical condition. At least Amtrak tried to do the right thing, knowing that they couldn't properly deal with Mr. Sims regardless of what his problem was at that moment. The police just threw up their hands and said whatever. Mr. Sims was less than 15 seconds away from being in their custody, yet they washed their hands of the entire incident. For all intents and purposes, they should have considered him in their custody and pursued him vigorously.
Regardless of whether he was drunk or suffering from a sugar related problem, is it not their sworn duty to protect and serve? How are they serving, by letting a man whom they believe is drunk as a skunk run off into the woods?
Next, it is simply not possible for Amtrak to ensure that all the medical needs of a disabled passenger are met. As you pointed out, they aren’t doctors and nurses. Amtrak is required to accommodate disabled passengers, but there is a certain level of responsibility that the passenger must still assume for their own care. Amtrak is not a nursing home. On the other hand, Amtrak is actually more flexible than most airlines. For example, Amtrak routinely carries passengers who require oxygen, while airlines refuse to carry their oxygen tanks.
In Mr. Sims case, if indeed it was a sugar imbalance problem that led to his troubles, he did not ensure that he had taken the proper steps to maintain his health. Again, it is not Amtrak’s responsibility to administer any form of therapy to fix that problem. Not only is it not their responsibility, they can’t legally do it.
And just because one is traveling with a disabled ticket doesn’t give one cart blanch either. If there is a passenger sitting in a wheel chair on the lower level of the coach, who is singing at the top of their lungs at 3 in the morning and they refuse to shut up after several requests from the crew, what would you have Amtrak do? Inconvenience the other 74 passengers in that car? Or call the police and have the person removed?
Granted that is an extreme case, but the person is clearly disabled. There is no need to show papers or anything else. But according to your statement above, since they’re disabled Amtrak should just let them continue on.
Finally, I believe that this case is vastly different than yours. From all accounts, Mr. Sims appeared to all on board to be visibly drunk. Whether he was really drunk or suffering from a sugar imbalance, he was indeed creating a problem for all. But it would appear from the evidence that is in, that it wasn’t a sugar imbalance or if it was, then it was compounded by alcohol. In your case, your medical condition had little to do with why you were thrown off the train. And at least from the facts in evidence, it wasn’t the entire train thinking that you were a problem.
