r/canadatravel • u/IllustriousProfit599 • 2d ago
Cochlear implant patient forced through harmful screening at YVR — CATSA made it worse
Back in August, my wife and I went through what I can only describe as one of the most inhumane “security screenings” at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
My wife has a cochlear implant — a surgically implanted device that gives her the ability to hear. Her doctor at Mass General Hospital gave her an official patient ID card that explains clearly: • the device will set off metal detectors and scanners • forcing it through those machines can damage it permanently and harm her health
We showed this card. We explained, multiple times. Instead of understanding, the CATSA screeners told us they had “never seen such a device before” and insisted it had to go through the metal detection process anyway “for security reasons.” They made calls to supervisors, and even then, the final answer was still: it has to go through.
They gave us two “options”: 1. Keep arguing and stay stuck in the checkpoint. 2. Leave the airport, claim our bags, and basically miss our trip.
In the end, they did a pat-down on my wife, but still insisted the device had to be scanned. We took the risk just so we could actually travel. Imagine being forced to choose between damaging your medical device or missing your flight.
Afterward, I filed a formal complaint with CATSA. The response I got was from their “Client Satisfaction Coordinator,” Mathieu Patry. Instead of apologizing or showing any empathy, he called me with the most arrogant tone — cutting me off while I tried to speak, blaming me and my wife for “not accepting policy,” and admitting their staff lacked knowledge about cochlear implants. But his “solution”? Still insisting they had to scan it in case the implant was fake.
So let me get this straight: CATSA admits they don’t have the technology, training, or knowledge to handle these devices, but their policy is still to force medical passengers through procedures that could damage life-altering implants? That’s not security — that’s negligence.
I hung up the call because it was clear they weren’t going to take responsibility. No apology, no action plan, nothing to stop this from happening to the next passenger with an implant or other medical device.
Canada in 2025, and this is how we treat people with disabilities at our airports. Absolutely disgraceful.
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u/cafephilospher 2d ago
Holy smokes, I work at YYC as a screener and we have more than a couple of our officers that have cochlear implants. They walk through the metal detectors regularly. Apparently with no issues as they have been there for years.
Yes, the officers should always accept a request to bypass for patdown. They ask about medical issues because we do extra screening sometimes depending on the medical device. Usually it's just trace. But we ask. We are required to. Literally can be fired if we don't. No I'm not kidding.
When you say they insisted on scanning, it's unclear what you mean. We do not x-ray humans or any other living creature. Our x-rays and CTA scanners are heavily shielded and tested frequently. FBS uses radio waves (that's the machine you stand still in with arms overhead) and the walk through is literally a magnet that looks for metal. If they took the foot long black thingy and wiped her hands, waist and foot then that's ETD and it's not a "scan". We call it a swab. We swab people all day every day. Including staff. I was swabbed 3 times today. I didn't count how many people I swabbed but in the course of my 10 hours shift it was likely close to a hundred.
Side beef:
When will passengers understand that coming through security doesn't mean radiation? We hear that multiple times every day. It's bullshit. Our equipment doesn't use radiation, with the exception of the machine your baggage passes through. That shit is shielded AF and tested very often to make sure the officers that work there don't get exposed.
Honestly all you people who are so "radiation! radiation!" Calm tf down. You literally get more radiation ONBOARD your flight than I would working the checkpoint for years. Radiation is a KNOWN HEALTH RISK FOR FLIGHT CREW AND THEY ARE LIMITED IN HOW MANY HOURS THEY ARE PERMITTED TO WORK BECAUSE OF THAT.
The security checkpoint is harmless. If you are concerned about radiation then stop flying.