MD80 arrival into ZZZ questions TRACON's priority handling for emergency aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	649905
Time
Date	200503
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Snow Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	649905
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	649898
Events
Anomaly	cabin event : passenger illness non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We had declared a medical emergency with ARTCC while about 160 NM from the airport because of a passenger with a possible heart attack. We had been cleared direct to the field and been given priority handling (or so we thought). When we were handed off to the final controller; we received instructions to slow down considerably and to expect an extended final. When we reminded controller that we had a medical emergency on board; she was sympathetic; but said they were in the midst of 'monitored approachs' and couldn't help us. This was somewhat alarming to me. We wound up on a 23 mi final approach that easily added 10 mins to our flight time. I'm to understand that medical emergencys don't receive the same priority as any other emergencys.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 ARR INTO ZZZ QUESTIONS TRACON'S PRIORITY HANDLING FOR EMER ACFT.

Narrative: WE HAD DECLARED A MEDICAL EMER WITH ARTCC WHILE ABOUT 160 NM FROM THE ARPT BECAUSE OF A PAX WITH A POSSIBLE HEART ATTACK. WE HAD BEEN CLRED DIRECT TO THE FIELD AND BEEN GIVEN PRIORITY HANDLING (OR SO WE THOUGHT). WHEN WE WERE HANDED OFF TO THE FINAL CTLR; WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO SLOW DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND TO EXPECT AN EXTENDED FINAL. WHEN WE REMINDED CTLR THAT WE HAD A MEDICAL EMER ON BOARD; SHE WAS SYMPATHETIC; BUT SAID THEY WERE IN THE MIDST OF 'MONITORED APCHS' AND COULDN'T HELP US. THIS WAS SOMEWHAT ALARMING TO ME. WE WOUND UP ON A 23 MI FINAL APCH THAT EASILY ADDED 10 MINS TO OUR FLT TIME. I'M TO UNDERSTAND THAT MEDICAL EMERS DON'T RECEIVE THE SAME PRIORITY AS ANY OTHER EMERS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.