Breasts get US worked up
2005-07-02 11:24
Cape Town - Women with silicone breast prostheses are advised to carry a doctor's letter with them if they want to escape inspection by American customs and security officials.
The Netcare travel clinics have issued a warning to women who have had a mastectomy and who use external silicone prostheses as they are targeted as a potential terrorist threat by American security officers.
Dr Andrew Jamieson, director of Netcare travel clinics, said since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 reports have been received from time to time of people with prostheses who experience problems at airports, especially as a result of increased security measures.
According a travel clinic official in America one of his patients, who had undergone a mastectomy, was held for more than four hours by security personnel at Amsterdam's Schipol airport who searched passengers destined for a flight to the United States.
The security officers were concerned that her silicone prosthesis could possibly have been used to hide explosives.
She was allowed to proceed after the prosthesis had been surrendered to them for proper investigation.
Travel clinic operators in die US recommend that women with external prostheses should acquire a letter from a doctor.
The contact information of the doctor should be on the letter, should it be necessary to confirm the information.
Jamieson said many travellers to the US with prostheses of any description have been targeted in the past.
This varies from people with metal joints, artificial limbs and people wearing orthopaedic shoes.
"Travellers are recommended to take an official letter with them when they visit the US.
"They may not need it, but it may also be of great value to obviate long and disconcerting delays," Jamieson said.