Woman with pacemaker showed her scar, was patted down by man to get through airport security

It was supposed to be a regular trip to the airport for Marion Howell, 62, who was travelling home to Ajax, Ont., from northern New Brunswick last week.

When Howell arrived at Bathurst Airport, she felt prepared. She got there early and made sure all of her liquids were in a clear, plastic bag — just like airport security recommends.

But Howell has a heart murmur, and 15 years ago got a pacemaker to help regulate her heart rate. She said her doctor advised her to avoid security scanners, which could disrupt the medical device and potentially cause problems.

"I said to the guy, 'I can't go through the metal detector. I have a pacemaker. I want a woman to pat me down.'" 

But, Howell said, the security screeners told her the only woman security officer in the building was not trained for a manual search. Her only option was to be patted down by a male guard or miss her flight. 

According to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada website, a physical search at airport security "may also be needed if an individual has a medical condition (e.g., pacemaker) that makes using a scanner dangerous."

Dr. Satish Toal, an electrophysiologist with the New Brunswick Heart Centre, said the risks associated with security scanners are not severe with newer pacemakers. But for older devices, like Howell's, there's a higher likelihood of disturbance.

"Anytime two magnets are together, there would be an interaction between them and there could be an issue," he said. For security scanners, he recommends not lingering under one for longer than 30 seconds. 

Howell remembers going back and forth with the security officers, pleading for a woman to search her. 

"I actually ended up having an anxiety attack and crying because they were refusing to let me go through," she said. 

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, a Crown corporation, is responsible for passenger and baggage screening at airports, including Bathurst.

CATSA's website says a physical search is "always done by a screening officer of the same gender as the passenger. In exceptional situations, when a screening officer of the same gender is not available, alternative screening options will be offered." 

"I know they're just doing their job," said Howell, adding that one of the officers seemed understanding of her circumstances. Another officer, however, was hostile, she said. 

"He was the mean one," said Howell. "It was like they were playing a game of good cop, bad cop."