PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - McKay, Mary Pat
TI  - Fatal Consequences: Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Train Engineer
AID  - 10.1370/afm.1868
DP  - 2015 Nov 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 583--586
VI  - 13
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/6/583.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/6/583.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2015 Nov 01; 13
AB  - This special report describes the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the probable cause of the derailment of a Metro-North passenger train in the Bronx, New York on December 1, 2013, that resulted in 4 deaths and injuries to 59 additional persons. A key finding in the medical investigation was the engineer’s post-accident diagnosis of severe, obstructive sleep apnea, and the probable cause of the accident was determined to be the result of the engineer having fallen asleep while operating the train. This accident highlights the importance of screening, evaluating, and ensuring adequate treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, particularly among patients working in positions where impairment of physical or cognitive function or sudden incapacitation may result in serious harm to the public.