I ran across this article the other day and I can’t help but feel sorry for the woman involved. Lori Dorn is a breast cancer patient who had a bilateral mastectomy in April and, as a result, had tissue expanders inserted to make way for a later breast implant. During a TSA body scanner inspection at JFK these tissue expanders caused Lori Dorn to be pulled aside for “secondary” screening. She explained her situation and asked to retrieve the cards with the expander information. She was refused this courtesy and was told that unless she underwent the secondary screening of her breast area she would not be flying that day.
The TSA agents have a job to do, I understand that, but they should treat their jobs with the same dignity and respect that they would want to receive. It is ridiculous that this woman was not able to retrieve the card explaining the expanders, even though not being able to see your bags is a violation of the TSA’s own suggestions. There has to come a point where we say “enough” and rectify this situation.
My last few trips have shown me that more and more people are becoming comfortable with these TSA procedures, making it harder to ever change them.
[disclaimer] The article website contains language that is not suitable for young people and is fairly strong. [/disclaimer]
Yeah, it’s a travesty.
Here’s where I read about it (fairly good blog of legal professionals – read their series on the anatomy of a scam from September).
http://www.popehat.com/2011/10/03/todays-tsa-even-petty-power-corrupts-perhaps-especially-petty-power/
I’ve been through the pr0n scanners seven times this year. The last time they put me through (on our trip to Greece a few weeks ago), I was pulled aside so the area behind the cross that I wear around my neck could be examined. Yep, I went through the scanner AND got felt up because of my cross/necklace.
I so want to be like people who aren’t bothered by this, but it took every ounce of my energy not to be infuriated while I was patted down. And yet, all I did was glare. All I ever do is glare. I want to get on that plane.
Perhaps we should start an OccupyTSA?