I'm surprised that the airline couldn't supply the doctor with a straw. Once took a chap in agony from an over-full bladder to the docs in France and a small catheter was inserted, which solved the problem. I couldn't believe how much urine was in there!
Although the doctor did a great job, I'm wondering whether it really was such a critical emergency as that report makes out. I survived 11 days in agony (before finally calling an ambulance) when I couldn't urinate earlier this year. I also survived quite a few hours, in similar pain, when my catheter got blocked a couple of months ago.