Telling stories and listening to them

There's a genre of writing unique to doctors: the tale of the in flight medical incident, where a request goes out for any doctors to make themselves known to the cabin crew. Usually in these stories the passenger doesn't have anything too serious, and our hero (less often heroine) leaves the plane with thanks (more or less effusive), a complimentary bottle of champagne, and hope of a future upgrade.

A pair of articles in this week's BMJ puts these tales into perspective. In flight medical incidents are common — 1 per …