FLT CREW OF B737 DECLARE MEDICAL EMER AND DIVERT TO BNA DUE TO PAX SUFFERING POSSIBLE STROKE. EXERCISED CAPT'S AUTH TO EXPEDITE ARR BELOW 10000 FT.

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UPON REACHING CRUISE FLT ENRTE TO BWI; I WAS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MEDICAL DEPT FOR THE FLT ATTENDANT. FLT ATTENDANT DISCUSSED PAX ISSUES WITH THEM AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS DECIDED WE CONTINUE TO BWI. AFTER 30 MINS; SHE CALLED AGAIN SAYING THE CUSTOMER'S CONDITION HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND ASKED FOR ANOTHER PATCH. HE ASKED US TO LAND SHORT DUE TO THE FACT HE THOUGHT THE PAX WAS HAVING A STROKE. DISPATCH AND I APPROVED THE DIVERSION INTO BNA. WE THEN DECLARED A MEDICAL EMER AND ASKED FOR DIRECT BNA. ON DSCNT; THE FLT ATTENDANTS CALLED AGAIN STATING HIS CONDITION WAS STILL DETERIORATING. AT THAT TIME; I TOLD BNA APCH THAT WE WOULD BE KEEPING OUR SPD UP AND ASKED FOR DIRECT. PASSING THROUGH 10000 FT; WE CONTINUED TO RUN AT SPDS GREATER THAN 250 KTS UNTIL WE NEEDED TO SLOW FOR THE APCH. SHOT A NORMAL APCH AND MET ALL STABILIZED APCH CRITERIA PRIOR TO THE OM. LANDED AND MEDICS MET THE ACFT AND TOOK THE PAX TO THE HOSPITAL. WE HAD TO SLOW FOR A NORMAL APCH AND DID SO TO ACHIEVE NORMAL APCH PARAMETERS. MY FO WAS FLYING. HE DID A GREAT JOB AT CTLING THE ACFT AND MAINTAINING ALL STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE APCH AND LNDG. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 615935: WE FLEW APPROX 330 KTS BELOW 10000 FT UNTIL NECESSARY TO SLOW FOR THE FINAL APCH SEGMENT. CAPT AND I BOTH FELT THIS WAS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION.