Date: 201811
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Distraction; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Diverted
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: After learning of the passengers seizure; we tried to get a Sat Link phone call to Med Link; but were having difficulty finding the right point of contact in directory. We had a jumpseater (not familiar with the B777; but familiar with Sat Com) and none of us could quite figure out who to use for a Sat phone call to Dispatch/Med Link. The registered nurse (passenger) on board recommended we land ASAP as the seizure passenger's vital signs were crashing. I was the Pilot Flying and the Captain was managing coordination. We obtained a clearance back to ZZZ as we were still at least 45 minutes from the CP and headed back direct. We also [advised ATC] via our ATC data link. Captain was able to work an HF phone patch to Med Link but the radios were very difficult to hear and transfer information. Everything had to be repeated several times. Additionally; the flight attendants were bombarding us with information. I was flying and trying to set up for recovery into ZZZ. The jumpseater was trying to help the Captain by relaying information to and from the flight attendants. It was at this point that Captain decided that to minimize the chaos and communication difficulties by exercising his [Captain's] authority and bring the registered nurse up to the flight deck to work directly with Med Link. She was not an [air carrier] employee and did not have a badge giving her cockpit access; but given all that was going on; it was better to have her where she could talk directly to Med Link. A Flight Attendant accompanied her on to the flight deck; the door was closed; and she was able to (although with great communication difficulty) work with Med Link to help the patient. By this time; the passenger's vitals had stabilized some and Med Link recommended we continue to [destination] which of course was now impossible. The registered nurse returned to the cabin to help the passenger/patient until we landed and EMTs boarded the aircraft. I support the Captain's decision to have brought the registered nurse up to the flight deck as there was so much going on just recovering the aircraft including dumping fuel that required his attention more than being a conduit of medical data.




Synopsis: B777 First Officer reported a medical diversion while in oceanic airspace.