Exercise of FSD Discretion to Implement a More Stringent Screening Process
Sep 14, 2016, 3:26 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
To be EXTREMELY CLEAR: I do not really know the applicable laws or really have a great understanding of security in general, I am a Physician not an expert in the Security Industry.
Recently, my Dad was going through a TSA checkpoint and TSA decided to take issue with a prescribed liquid medication.
The employee asked my Father when his last meal was and my Father honestly said my Wife and I ate lunch before going to the airport. The employee said the label says take 1 hour before breakfast, lunch and dinner and as you had lunch before coming to the airport and the flight is short, about an hour and landing well before dinner you can check this medication.
My Dad said I was under the impression that Prescribed Medication is exempt from the liquids band thus I could have it with me, in case my flight is delayed, etc. The TSA employee said that he had ultimate authority with regards to exemptions and he was not exempting this item.
My Dad is a Physician himself and said to the TSA Employee did you take a Residency in Gastroenterology prior to working for TSA as my Gastroenterologist felt I need this medication? The Agent said my Dad should not joke about security and he did not need a residency in medicine to know what is a necessitated exemption and what is not.
Ultimately a Supervisor was called and he did allow the Medication through, but does any TSA Employee, FSD or mere peon have the right to practice medicine without a license? Which is essentially what that TSA Employee did do, IMHO.
Recently, my Dad was going through a TSA checkpoint and TSA decided to take issue with a prescribed liquid medication.
The employee asked my Father when his last meal was and my Father honestly said my Wife and I ate lunch before going to the airport. The employee said the label says take 1 hour before breakfast, lunch and dinner and as you had lunch before coming to the airport and the flight is short, about an hour and landing well before dinner you can check this medication.
My Dad said I was under the impression that Prescribed Medication is exempt from the liquids band thus I could have it with me, in case my flight is delayed, etc. The TSA employee said that he had ultimate authority with regards to exemptions and he was not exempting this item.
My Dad is a Physician himself and said to the TSA Employee did you take a Residency in Gastroenterology prior to working for TSA as my Gastroenterologist felt I need this medication? The Agent said my Dad should not joke about security and he did not need a residency in medicine to know what is a necessitated exemption and what is not.
Ultimately a Supervisor was called and he did allow the Medication through, but does any TSA Employee, FSD or mere peon have the right to practice medicine without a license? Which is essentially what that TSA Employee did do, IMHO.
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline/hotline.php
Sep 15, 2016, 8:14 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
He a long time ago resided himself to the fact that he is a mere peon and will never not via vote or any other means have any real way to effect to change, so he went about practicing medicine and just staying out of the Government the best he could.
He did say that he might speak with the Texas Medical Board and let them know that TSA is dispensing medical advice and countermanding Physicians orders without a Medical License. However, he at this point will probably just do nothing at all as he has calmed down about the whole thing and is now enjoying his vacation.
Sep 15, 2016, 10:36 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 396
I will pass that along, having said that, I know my Father and he will say the work to file the complaint which will have no material impact is not worth his time.
He a long time ago resided himself to the fact that he is a mere peon and will never not via vote or any other means have any real way to effect to change, so he went about practicing medicine and just staying out of the Government the best he could.
He did say that he might speak with the Texas Medical Board and let them know that TSA is dispensing medical advice and countermanding Physicians orders without a Medical License. However, he at this point will probably just do nothing at all as he has calmed down about the whole thing and is now enjoying his vacation.
He a long time ago resided himself to the fact that he is a mere peon and will never not via vote or any other means have any real way to effect to change, so he went about practicing medicine and just staying out of the Government the best he could.
He did say that he might speak with the Texas Medical Board and let them know that TSA is dispensing medical advice and countermanding Physicians orders without a Medical License. However, he at this point will probably just do nothing at all as he has calmed down about the whole thing and is now enjoying his vacation.
Information I need:
Time of incident.
Date of Incident.
Airport
Terminal of the Airport
Checkpoint of the Terminal
Lane of the Checkpoint.
And YES ABSOLUTELY YES, TSA needs to held account for "dispensing medical advice and countermanding Physicians orders"
***Just tell the Airport, Checkpoint, and Date***
Oct 5, 2016, 10:40 am
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,668
https://twitter.com/WhatThe5K/status/783391636168597504
Interesting exchange on AskTSA this morning.
Pax at BIS asks why all pax are now required to remove snacks (yes, Doritos and such) from their bags during screening. He was told it was a state-wide FSD rule.
TSA-bot responded that TSO's have the discretion to do whatever they want.
Pax responds by posting the website info regarding snacks. Nothing about snacks being prohibited or requiring extra screening or removal. Pax asks how travelers are supposed to prepare for travel when they have no idea what to expect or what is/isn't allowed.
Pax points out that he was specifically told that this has nothing to do with 'discretion', it is a new state-wide FSD rule that applies to all pax. Pax notes that TSA-bot clearly is set up to respond 'discretion' without actually processing the nature of the complaint.
Final unanswered pax question (neither bots nor real people wanted to tackle this one honestly):
Interesting exchange on AskTSA this morning.
Pax at BIS asks why all pax are now required to remove snacks (yes, Doritos and such) from their bags during screening. He was told it was a state-wide FSD rule.
TSA-bot responded that TSO's have the discretion to do whatever they want.
Pax responds by posting the website info regarding snacks. Nothing about snacks being prohibited or requiring extra screening or removal. Pax asks how travelers are supposed to prepare for travel when they have no idea what to expect or what is/isn't allowed.
Pax points out that he was specifically told that this has nothing to do with 'discretion', it is a new state-wide FSD rule that applies to all pax. Pax notes that TSA-bot clearly is set up to respond 'discretion' without actually processing the nature of the complaint.
Final unanswered pax question (neither bots nor real people wanted to tackle this one honestly):
So how, as a traveler, am I supposed to know what the rules are when your website and agents don't even agree on what the rules are?
Oct 5, 2016, 1:03 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,094
https://twitter.com/WhatThe5K/status/783391636168597504
Interesting exchange on AskTSA this morning.
Pax at BIS asks why all pax are now required to remove snacks (yes, Doritos and such) from their bags during screening. He was told it was a state-wide FSD rule.
TSA-bot responded that TSO's have the discretion to do whatever they want.
Pax responds by posting the website info regarding snacks. Nothing about snacks being prohibited or requiring extra screening or removal. Pax asks how travelers are supposed to prepare for travel when they have no idea what to expect or what is/isn't allowed.
Pax points out that he was specifically told that this has nothing to do with 'discretion', it is a new state-wide FSD rule that applies to all pax. Pax notes that TSA-bot clearly is set up to respond 'discretion' without actually processing the nature of the complaint.
Final unanswered pax question (neither bots nor real people wanted to tackle this one honestly):
Interesting exchange on AskTSA this morning.
Pax at BIS asks why all pax are now required to remove snacks (yes, Doritos and such) from their bags during screening. He was told it was a state-wide FSD rule.
TSA-bot responded that TSO's have the discretion to do whatever they want.
Pax responds by posting the website info regarding snacks. Nothing about snacks being prohibited or requiring extra screening or removal. Pax asks how travelers are supposed to prepare for travel when they have no idea what to expect or what is/isn't allowed.
Pax points out that he was specifically told that this has nothing to do with 'discretion', it is a new state-wide FSD rule that applies to all pax. Pax notes that TSA-bot clearly is set up to respond 'discretion' without actually processing the nature of the complaint.
Final unanswered pax question (neither bots nor real people wanted to tackle this one honestly):
