95 year old woman forced to remove wet nappy at airport for security pat down

Big Brother Watch has long campaigned against the overly intrusive methods used by airport security staff.  There are numerous examples of such intrusions, from the forced use of body scanners in British and American airports to the intimidating pat-downs many young children have been forced to endure.

We have yet, however, to hear of a case as shocking as that of a wheelchair-bound 95 year old woman who was forced to remove her wet adult nappy in order to allow US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspectors to pat her down before a flight.

The lady, who is suffering from advanced leukaemia was boarding a flight from Florida's Northwest Regional Airport back to her home-town of Detroit where she wishes to be buried.

The TSA has been quick to respond to criticisms of their actions, saying that their staff were "following procedures" and that "every person and item must be screened before entering the secure boarding area".

Has the TSA got no humanity?  How can it be ever be considered appropriate or proportionate to strip-search a leukaemia-stricken 95 year old lady returning home to die?

This story, more than any other Big Brother Watch has ever encountered, demonstrates the need for urgent reform of the airport security procedures in order to achieve a more appropriate balance between guaranteeing passenger safety and personal privacy.

Comments

[no fly]

This demonstrates that these security people have been given power without understanding about human dignity - flying and the associated security is making the human race lose the precious things that we value, dignity being one of them. I no longer fly thank goodness.

[John Pawlik]

I really think that they are trying to stop normal people from flying to preserve oil! I am sure that I would get violent with these overweight Americans if they attempted to assult me. Hense air travel is off the cards for me...

[Source]

Source?

[NR]

Reported here
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/mother-41324-search-adult.html

[1984]

Let's make a list of what is going on with airport body scanners so far:
The UK is the only country in the world that uses compulsory x-ray backscatter.
The UK consultation on airport body scanners began over 15 months ago and the DfT are refusing to publish the results even though the submissions had been fully analysed by the autumn of last year.
The former BigBrother Watch director, Alex Deane, has fully endorsed the Thru-Vision body scanner even though it is privacy invasive, albeit less so than backscatter.
The European Parliament and the various parliamentary committees ( TRAN and LIBE) have produced a number of reports which state categorically that body scans should be optional for all passengers and no x-ray scanners should be used. The European Commission are fully aware of this but are further delaying publishing their privacy impact assessment until the autumn at the earliest. The EU Commission have fully endorsed the use of compulsory x-ray backscatter at Manchester airport despite this being contrary to EU parliamentary wishes and the submissions of many concerned passengers throughout the EU.
The American TSA continue to victimise passengers with disabilities.

[burberry uk]

The former BigBrother Watch director, Alex Deane, has fully endorsed the Thru-Vision body scanner even though it is privacy invasive, albeit less so than backscatter.

[louboutin]

The European Commission are fully aware of this but are further delaying publishing their privacy impact assessment until the autumn at the earliest.

[ray ban sale]

I am sure that I would get violent with these overweight Americans if they attempted to assult me. Hense air travel is off the cards for me...

[burberry outlet]

ackscatter.
The European Parliament and the various parliamentary committees ( TRAN and LIBE) have produced a number of reports which state categorically that body scans should be optional for all passengers and no x-ray scanners should be used. The European Commission are fully aware of this but are further delaying publishing their privacy impact assessment until the a

[vubangsi mercel - the work from home guy]

Informative but very funny. This post kept me laughing from tittle to end

[Phil Randome]

I don't fly anymore because of medical discrimination at airports in the UK & abroad. Add to that the stress of delays, rip off prices for food & drink & officious personnel who expect me suspend my human rights just for the torture of travel by air. In the past I've been kept on a plane for over 7hrs awaiting departure denied a drink, prevented from getting off & all without explanation. Animals are protected from being kept in sweltering conditions without water but strangely humans don't have any rights in this area.
Hell will freeze over before I ever countenance a visit the US let alone venturing inside an airport.