CAPT AND FO OF AN MDT ACFT WERE DISCIPLINED WHEN THEY DELAYED A FLT DUE TO WAITING FOR A DISPATCH RELEASE TO OPERATE AT A LOWER ALT DUE TO A LACK OF PORTABLE OXYGEN FOR EMER PAX MEDICAL USE.

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ON THE NIGHT OF OCT/XX/93 WE HAD A PAX THAT WAS TAKEN TO THE LCL HOSPITAL; AFTER LNDG (IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF). WHEN THE LCL AMBULANCE ARRIVED IT HAD NO OXYGEN. I DECIDED TO GIVE THE PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE TO THE AFFECTED PAX. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE THE FLT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN BOTTLE WAS GONE; IT WAS LATER RETURNED EMPTY. I CHKED MY MEL AND IT SHOWS NOTHING ABOUT MISSING OR EMPTY OXYGEN BOTTLES. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY DISPATCH OFFICE. THEY SAID TO WAIT THERE; THAT AN OXYGEN BOTTLE WAS ON ITS WAY ON A PVT CHARTER FLT. THIS WENT FOR 2 1/2 HRS. WE LATER WERE INFORMED THAT THE BOTTLE IS NOW ARRIVING ON A DIFFERENT ACFT AND IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO ARRIVE! I WAS LATER CALLED BY THE CHIEF PLT AND LATER BY THE DIRECTOR OF OP. THE DIRECTOR OF OP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS VERY LEGAL TO DEPART TO SJU WITHOUT A PORTABLE OXYGEN BOTTLE; IF I FLEW BELOW 10000 FT. I AGREED. I THEN REQUESTED A RELEASE GIVING ME APPROVAL TO DO JUST THAT. WELL; THEY NEVER DID -- UNTIL REPEATED CALLS FROM ME BACK TO THEM DID THEY FINALLY SEND THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION! I FEEL THAT BECAUSE I DISCUSSED THE PROB WITH MY FO WE BOTH DECIDED TO FURTHER DELAY THE FLT; BECAUSE WE FELT IT WAS HIGHLY IRREGULAR TO DEPART WITH MISSING EMER EQUIP. BECAUSE OF THIS MY FO WAS FIRED! THEY BELIEVE HE WAS SUBORDINATE 'I WAS USING CREW RE-MGMNT.' I WAS SUSPENDED FOR AGREEING WITH HIM AND NOT EXERCISING 'PIC AUTH.' I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WITH FINAL AUTH AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE; WHEN THE PROPER PAPER CAME IN. I FEEL PRESSURED FROM COMPANY BECAUSE I DID A GOOD JOB AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.