TSA Apologizes For Handling Of Breast Cancer Survivor's Pat-Down

(Svetlana Privezentseva/Shutterstock)

By now you may have heard the galling story of Lori Dorn, the breast cancer survivor who was subjected to a humiliating pat-down at JFK airport last month. Dorn wrote about the experience on her blog, igniting a media firestorm that has resulted in something as elusive as a cure for cancer: A TSA apology (albeit a qualified one). It all started when Dorn—who recently underwent a bilateral mastectomy and had tissue expanders implanted for future breast reconstruction—was going through screening to get to her Virgin Airways flight to San Francisco. But the tissue expanders set off the imaging scanner, and so the TSA demanded a pat-down. On her blog, she wrote:

I told her that I 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 (pictured) 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...I just didn’t understand why these agents were so insensitive to the situation. I would have been happy to show her which bag was mine and have her retrieve the card, but she did not allow even that. I have been through emotional and physical hell this past year due to breast cancer. The way I was treated by these TSA agents added a shitload of insult to injury and caused me a great deal of humiliation.

Three days after her story went viral, the TSA admitted the incident should have been handled differently. On a blog post, the TSA says, "We do our best to treat passengers with the dignity and respect they deserve, but in Lori Dorn’s case, it looks like we missed our mark. We sincerely regret and apologize for the experience Mrs. Dorn had at JFK. The Federal Security Director for JFK has personally reached out to learn more about what happened so he can help ensure that she and others will have better travel experiences in the future."

But the TSA also notes that medical cards, "whether from a physician or TSA, do not exempt you from screening. They're a great way for passengers to discreetly let us know about a medical situation or disability they have." But if the image scanner "detects an anomaly that cannot be cleared," screening is mandatory. What the TSA regrets, it seems, is the security officer's lack of empathy, and her failure to properly communicate to Dorn that she could be screened in private.

Last night Dorn, who is still being treated for cancer, updated her blog, writing, "I’ve heard from many that the apology rang hollow. Perhaps, but it was a public acknowledgment all the same. And I know that the above referenced Federal Security Director was absolutely sincere in his apology as he disclosed to me had lost someone close to him to cancer. I accept his and the TSA’s apology. The proof, however, will be in the pudding the next time I travel through JFK."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on October 5, 2011 12:06 PM

Comments [rss]

TimeDown

Why don't they fire the people who caused the problem in the first place? If the TSA admits they were wrong and handled it wrong their employees should be fired, just like all of us would be for not doing our jobs correctly.

Opus the Poet

I used to have a pin in my hip after my wreck, and I was subjected to a cavity search every time I travelled in spite of the huge scar on my hip (and the huge skin graft on my lower leg). As soon as I could I got the pin removed.

RedStapler

I flew back to Austin the other day, after a visit home to NYC. I flew out of JFK.

When I went through security, there was a black woman ahead of me who was having trouble with the checkpoint.

She was visibly agitated, and had just been selected for further searching.

She had one of those modified walkers that has a seat attached, and I
couldn’t tell if her movements were because she was so angry, or
something neurological.

She was told that because of metal that showed up on her scan, she was being searched further. I heard her tell the TSA agent that she had clips in her head from a recent surgery. As required by protocol, the agent told the woman where she would be touched before she did it.

I was waiting for my belongings on the conveyor belt, and this conversation was happening close enough for me to hear it.

A few moments later, the agent told her that she could streamline her TSA process if she took the clips out of her hair.

The woman, now obviously furious, told the agent hat she couldn’t take the
clips out of her hair, they were in her head from surgery, and that she
had just explained that. She also repeatedly said that she didn’t like
or want to be touched.

As I zipped my boots back up, I heard the agent call for her supervisor.

I kept moving because the last thing this woman needed was another person
watching while she was publicly called out for Traveling While Disabled.

But yes, this shit is happening. And given the volume of air travel in the US, this is happening daily, probably many times per day.

delicats

My mom has metal hips and a knee, so she always gets the full pat down.

A few months ago, she was traveling alone (a rarity for this reason) and while waiting for a pat-down, my mother told a TSA agent that her bag was out of site. The TSA agent said that it "wasn't her problem," and she was "just going to have to wait like everyone else."

So not only is unattended baggage no biggie, neither is treating people like animals.

Scott Cockandtailtime

After going through the metal detector and clearing that, I got my legs patted down because I was wearing baggy pants. I asked the TSA agent which way to face and he was nice and told me to face the xray machine so that I could keep an eye on my belongings.

But this was at Key West Airport and my partner was watching my stuff. Key West has the nicest TSA agents. I never want to fly out of JFK.

ANGRYGOD11

The TSA is working with the idea the weapons and bombs will come in the passenger doors. The number of staffers with access to the plane is stagerring. The people loading food on the plane are not making a fortune.

brooklynwry

Just a few days ago I was in line watching the TSA try and conduct the screening of an old lady cruising through on her jazzy scooter. Gotta love it! She passed through atop a several hundred pound contraption of mechanical goodness, powered no doubt by a multi-cell battery capable crippling a city block if wired improperly, and I can't even carry a fucking bottle of water. This entire system is absurd and massive waste of time/money/dignity.

delicats

Was it her Jazzy scooter or the airports'?

brooklynwry

I assumed it was private, although I don't know where she could have put it on a plane. Usually the airports provide the little golf-carts to zip people around.

Roger_the_Shrubber

Abolish this bunch of uneducated goons.

nicemarmot

When I went through security while 6 months (i.e. very visibly) pregnant, I refused the nudie scanner. I realize that they don't give off much radiation, but I don't trust the TSA to calibrate them. At all. Especially not with a vulnerable growing fetus inside me. So I got a full patdown in front of everyone, that involved not only crotch-groping, but individually lifting up each of my gigantic preggo boobs and sliding hands underneath. It was pretty much like being in high school all over again! They don't give a shit who you are, what your medical condition might be, or whether you're even slightly likely to commit a terrorist act.

The worst part of it is, we're really all safer since 9/11. But it's not because of groping, or nudie scanners, or having to pack all your liquids in tiny containers. It's two things: locking the cockpit doors, and passengers no longer sitting quietly while their planes are hijacked.

Oh yeah, and the last time I flew, they were sending every single passenger through the nudie scanner, both ways. It took two hours to get through security, just like right after 9/11.

shocktheday

Next time you take a flight, take note of the 110lb flight attendant standing in front of the cockpit door when the pilot comes out to take a piss. If that's our security procedure, we're in trouble.

FU Boy

Most planes have a private bathroom for the cockpit.

delicats

This is true, and probably 100% of bigger jetliners have them, as well as separate rest quarters and galley.

The only exception could be smaller, regional flights or older planes.

Then you wonder where the sky marshall could be (if anywhere)

imadick

don't give the terrorists ideas man! come on now

owl translator

I'm flying for the first time in years this week and crap like this is freaking me out. I'm going to have to take my Ativan just to get through security!

UnrepentantFenian

If you have a scrip for ativan, don't worry, you're already the biggest threat on the plane.

neustreber

Why are you being searched at all?

If you lock the cockpits, a plane is just an enclosed space with upto 400 people, like a subway, or an arena, or a library, or a church... shall we have pat downs everywhere?

No. Stop this nonsense, it doesn't make you more secure.

A global campaign of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", will make you safe.

e non

it has nothing to do with security. it's all about training the public to obey -- and be afraid of the consequences if you don't.

shocktheday

With all the credible threats against airlines, I'd gladly have my junk and all my fellow passengers' junks manhandled to ensure a safe flight.