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Originally Posted by Nat
TSA forces cancer survivor to show prosthetic breast
A longtime Charlotte, N.C., flight attendant and cancer survivor told a local television station that she was forced to show her prosthetic breast during a pat-down.
Cathy Bossi, who works for U.S. Airways, said she received the pat-down after declining to do the full-body scan because of radiation concerns.
The TSA screener "put her full hand on my breast and said, 'What is this?' " Bossi told the station. "And I said, 'It's my prosthesis because I've had breast cancer.' And she said, 'Well, you'll need to show me that.' "
Bossi said she removed the prosthetic from her bra. She did not take the name of the agent, she said, "because it was just so horrific of an experience, I couldn't believe someone had done that to me. I'm a flight attendant. I was just trying to get to work."
For Americans who wear prosthetics — either because they are cancer survivors or have lost a limb — or who have undergone hip replacements or have a pacemaker, the humiliation of the TSA's new security procedures — choosing between a body scan or body search — is even worse.
Musa Mayer has worn a breast prosthesis for 21 years since her mastectomy and is used to the alarms it sets off at airport security. But nothing prepared her for the "invasive and embarrassing" experience of being patted down, poked and examined recently while passing through airport security at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
"I asked the supervisor if she realized that there are 3 million women who have had breast cancer in the U.S., many of whom wear breast prostheses. Will each of us now have to undergo this humiliating, time-consuming routine every time we pass through one of these new body scanners?" she said in an e-mail to msnbc.com.
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I have had exspensive durable medical equipment ransacked, with dirty hands put all over what has to kept sanitary and broken by airport searches even when it says "Medical Equipment" right on it and is not a rare device. But, at one time it was not something that would be recognized for what it is. Now, due to the trainings that TSA employees are required to take, this has changed. But so have the kinds of things that terrorist types have figured out might be a good vehicle to put something in.
I'm sure my Mom would feel much the same as this woman as she wore a prosthetic breast. Yet, there are ways we can combat this. Just like people that have pace-makers carry medical cards stating so (like heart valve repacement folks carry cards with that information and people with joint replacements)- a card from a doctor for this can be given to TSA agents at airports. In fact, this would be something that could be on those data base frequent flyer security protocols being developed.
This is all on the TSA website, airline sites and the information is also given via a phone call. People that fly often know this and are prepared. Those of us that don't fly often need to look up these things when making our travel arrangements. And there is a disclaimer about things being "changed without notice."
In fact, after my medical equipment was handled and damaged, I complained and was instructed to re-read policies. I then got documentation from my doctor that I carry in my wallet. I have never had this problem since. i just show them the card and they only open the cover to my devise and that's it. It can safely go through the usual scanners, but cannot be thrown around with luggage, so it has to be part of my carry-on items. The TSA in-service trainings are continually updated about possible medical devices, either implanted or used by people that could be scrutinized.
This is a pain in the rear, but a sign of the times. I wish it wasn't and that this woman did not go through this. I also don't like how much medical 9and other) personal information is now computerized- anyone can get a hold of it really- just break into insurance computer banks!
I forgot something in the other post- talking to POC about what it feels like to continually be "suspect" by virture of their color or clothing, manner of speaking is interesting to this whole conversation. Most whites enjoy freedom from most of the kinds of suspicions that POC go through almost every day of their lives. I'm betting that it would only be POC, men in turbins or any other person in any kind of non-western clothing that would be subjected to pat-downs and body scans if we were
ALL not required to go through the same security methods in airports.