Deep Vein Thrombosis And Air Travel

EDM number 581 in 2000-01, proposed by John P Smith on 10/04/2001.

That this House regrets the tragic and premature deaths of PC John Anthony Thomas aged 30 and Emma Christofferson aged 28 and others of a pulmonary embolism or related condition following a long distance plane journey; notes the increasing body of world wide expert opinion highlighting the potential health risks associated with flying; recognises the growing public concern about the incidence of deep vein thrombosis linked with long haul air travel; calls upon British airline companies in the interests of the health and welfare of airline passengers, as a matter of urgency, to adopt voluntarily the provisions of the Air Travellers (Provision of Health Information) Bill and provide up to date and accurate information to all their passengers about the possible risks associated with air travel to include actions which are known to reduce such risk; and further calls on air carriers to undertake comprehensive research themselves, or in cooperation with others, into the incidence of deep vein thrombosis amongst air travellers to establish the full extent of the risk passengers are exposed to and to inform future publication of information quantifying that risk and outlining the range of preventative measures available to reduce the likelihood of contracting this debilitating and often fatal condition.

This motion has been signed by a total of 56 MPs.