I think we're beginning to miss some of the points of the original situation.
Respectfully, I disagree. From where I sit, the analysis doesn't change.
If the DM of a dive I was paying to be on came up to me at depth OOA half way through the dive, after a series of reptative dives, I would give them air and make our ascent. We'd do the SS. If he wanted to surface, I would protest. If he really wanted to surface. More power to him.
I think we agree that there is disagreement on this point. But I don't see any misunderstanding.
There is no indication in this account that rescue could not have been completed without a SS. Just that the DM, the pro, waived off the SS.
And no indication otherwise, which is the heart of the problem. The issues are margin of safety versus difficulty in communication underwater. Missing an optional safety stop doesn't appreciably diminish that margin (and repetitive doesn't really matter here if you're following the residuals on your tables or computer). More importantly, giving thumbs in response to a safety stop signal can mean a number of things other than "I waive the stop for no good reason."
It is like if you are released AMA out of the hospital. They protest, but they let you go.
That doesn't sound like a proper analogy. If "AMA" is walking out of the hospital "against medical advice," then the implication is that he feels fine and he's DEPARTING FROM a place of assistance (also, presumably after an attempted discussion about why he should or shouldn't go, and in a situation where medical caregivers KNOW what his ailment is). Here, a victim with an unknown condition is running TOWARDS help. It's more like someone running INTO a hospital, and you you grab them and push them to the ground to prevent them from crossing over the lawn. Yes, you could lead him to the hospital by dragging him around the sidewalk, but without a way to ask what the problem is, it's hard to justify that "there is no indication that rescue could not have been completed without" getting there ASAP--in scuba, you can't ask him why he's running into the hospital so quickly, could be something serious.
This DM lost his decision making privilages when he forgot to check the air in his tanks before he jumped in the water. Are we going to listen to the guy who should have been the responsible one?
Would I trust this DM to lead another dive with me? No way. But again, the issue is that in an underwater emergency and panic situation, you don't know what the problem is or isn't, and for many, the balance of safety margin v. surface and likely consequences tips towards the latter. It has nothing to do with the DM making any kind of decision for the buddy team. After the fact, we're free to review the situation and discuss whether a safety stop could have been made under the circumstances, but you know what they say about hindsight.
I still maintain that once a stressed diver has your octo, if he really wants to go up, he probably won't give up the regulator and you're likely going to find yourself being dragged up as well, so you might as well do so in as controlled and slow a manner as possible and avoid a potential AGE.
