Cancer Patient Was Breast-Checked In Front Of Other Passengers

Officials in both the Transportation Security Administration and local security at JFK International Airport in New York are admitting proper procedures were not followed in the case of Lori Dorn. She went to JFK to fly on Virgin America to San Francisco after undergoing a bilateral mastectomy in treatment for breast cancer.

Dorn had also received medical implants called tissue expanders in preparation for future reconstructive surgery. The implants, according to the manufacturer, contain a metallic component which is not compatible with MRI and "that may be detected by security screening devices." At the checkpoint, they were, indeed detected by the scan.

At that point, Dorn recalls in her blog, "I was asked to step aside to have my breast area examined. I explained to the agent that I was a breast cancer patient...was not comfortable with having my breasts touched and that I had a card in my wallet that explains the type of expanders, serial numbers and my doctor’s information and asked to retrieve it. This request was denied.

"Instead, she called over a female supervisor who told me the exam had to take place. I was again told that I could not retrieve the card and needed to submit to a physical exam in order to be cleared.  She then said, 'And if we don’t clear you, you don’t fly' loud enough for other passengers to hear. And they did. And they stared at the bald woman being yelled at by a TSA Supervisor.

"To my further dismay, my belongings, including my computer, were completely out of sight. I had no choice but to allow an agent to touch my breasts in front of other passengers."

Dorn says she has since received apologies from both JFK Security and the TSA. But the TSA hints on its own blog there's only so much it can do. "Medical cards, whether from a physician or TSA, do not exempt you from screening. In this case, our officers should have allowed the passenger to present her card and been more empathetic to her situation while completing the screening process.

"Private screening can be requested by any passenger for any reason and in situations such as this one, our officers should offer it. If advanced imaging technology detects an anomaly that cannot be cleared, secondary screening is required to ensure the passenger does not have threat items...

"TSA has just rolled out an in-service technical training course focused on screening prosthetics. he training should be complete nationwide in a little over a year.

"TSA works with numerous groups including breast cancer organizations to continuously refine and enhance our procedures to improve the passenger experience while also ensuring the safety of the traveling public."

FMI: Lori Dorn Blog (note: crude language) ; TSA Blog