HIPAA, The TSA, and "Gate Rape"

Insightful article written by Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times fame, in which he draws the line at body cavity searches by TSA agents. No, they're not doing that, yet:



In that article from Ebert, is admission that he's had some "work" done to his jaw; I haven't been keeping up with his health issues, so I cannot imagine what it's like having a TSA agent eye you suspiciously for whatever may be under some bandages. I'm going to be flying the beginning of next month, and while I don't know if the titanium plate in my neck will sound bells and whistles, I cannot imagine how I'll explain it away. Will I be forced to say AHHHH and have someone look down my throat? And, Mr. bobsbs, where is the scar from your alleged surgery?

Where does personal privacy come into play, if at all? But it's really not a matter of personal privacy, at least from Ebert's jaw or my titanium plate - it's just how much information do we need supply the TSA about our medical conditions, and whether it's any of their damn business. One of the comments from Ebert's article says it best, to wit:

"As someone who has a series of wires embedded in my chest from open heart surgery, I take special interest in this. I wonder if the rifling through medications, forcing passenger to reveal and explain prosthetic devices, and the like, violate our (otherwise) scrupulously circumscribed HIPAA medical privacy laws."

Marilee's gonna love this topic.