I'm quite sure that if Pistole was wearing an ostomy bag or Nappy had a breast prosthesis, they would not be going to the back room every time they fly.
Exactly.
Originally Posted by
RichardKenner
The same as what the TSA is supposed to be doing: find some alternate way to screen a medical device that doesn't endanger the user of that device.
You clearly can't simply rely on the passenger's word for it or anybody who wants to take something on a plane just says they have an ostomy bag. And any mechanism to try to "verify" it either runs into serious security (false papers) or medical privacy issues.
The people who say these things are the ones who are not themselves made to suffer under this policy.
You do realize, Mr. Kenner, that you just said to me, "You can't be trusted, Katie, to not be faking your amputation for the purpose of carrying concealed explosives onboard an aircraft." That is incredibly offensive and insulting.
With all that I have had to suffer in my life
(where do I start? Chemotherapy at the age of 10? A failed limb-salvage procedure? Amputation at the age of 12? Hours and hours of physical therapy in middle school? Being stared at and ostracized, or alternately, pitied, by my peers? Little kids who ask rude questions and parents who refuse to stop them, leading me to completely stop going to swimming pools and wearing shorts? Little old ladies who say, "Aww, you're so gosh-darn inspirational..." Permanent risk of heart problems? The constant threat of recurrence hanging over my head?), you're going to add to it by telling me that I "can't be trusted"?
You, and TSA screeners, who, I will remind you, have no medical training and would be unlikely to distinguish an actual prosthesis from some kind of concealed bomb, are able to determine that I "cannot be trusted"?
Sorry, but I can't carry all the burden here. I simply do not have the emotional reserves to do so anymore. You are going to have to accept some level of risk that icky disabled people might be lying, or whatever you think about us. I happen to think that most old men who stare at me and my unusual gait are pervs, so there you are, and yet, I still go to the grocery store.
Now, I (and most other disabled persons) concede that we will never be able to simply walk through security like everybody else. So here are two options for screening passengers with (certain) medical issues:
A) WTMD - those with metal components say to the screener, "It's going to alarm, I have a prosthesis" (This is what I always do.) Secondary screening with metal wand - upon encountering metal, alarming area is briefly hand-searched to confirm its legitimacy, passenger is allowed to leave.
B) MMW - an anomaly is shown on the image, the area of the anomaly (and
only that area) is hand-searched to resolve it. If passenger indicates that there is a medical issue (ostomy bag, Broviac catheter, etc) that needs special care and handling, screener politely says, "Ok, sir, is there a way I could just get a quick peek at that to make sure? I don't need to touch it. There's a private room available just over here if that would make you more comfortable." TSA looks at ostomy or catheter or whatever, thinks to himself, "Yep, that's sure what it looks like." TSA says to passenger, "Thank you sir, you're good to go. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Of course, there are passengers with issues that don't fit into either of those categories. The point is, the screeners, while doing their job and effectively and efficiently screening all passengers, should be encouraged to "think outside the box" and exhibit genuine customer service, while recognizing their own limitations (you are a TSA clerk, not a doctor, so you're going to have trust what people tell you about their conditions).
But then...a dream is a wish your heart makes...that never will come true...sing along, everyone!