I tried, but I can't let it go...

First of all, common sense should tell you that it would be easier for a guy with a visible tremor to drink from a narrow-mouthed bottle than a wide-mouthed cup. Has Mr. Smith never tried this while driving? (I know, I know, this is just one of many failures of common sense, and it may have been partially retaliatory to say, "Well, I'm not a doctor.")

Secondly, the specious discussion going on with the FSD about where the liquids were purchased. A short list of items that are medically necessary for people I've known that can be purchased at drugstores, etc.:

• whole milk (hypoglycemia)
• juice (diabetes)
• whale-drowning quantities of water, cranberry juice, or other beverages (urinary tract infections)
• gel ice packs (sprains, fractures, various acute and chronic soft tissue problems)
• microwaveable hot packs (various acute and chronic soft tissue injuries)

You may have noticed that all of the associated conditions are common as dirt. Granted, my definition of "medically necessary" includes "will prevent things from getting worse," not merely, "will prevent immediate death," which I suspect is what the TSA's is, if they've even thought it through. Also, "preventing things from getting worse" is a broad category that includes "not requiring hospitalization," "preventing the need for corrective or additional treatment," and "allowing the patient to be comfortable enough on his flight that he doesn't club the next obtuse TSA 'officer' he encounters over the head with his laptop in a pain-induced rage."