Posted on 12/02/2013 7:25:05 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Ellen Richardson went to Pearson airport on Monday full of joy about flying to New York City and from there going on a 10-day Caribbean cruise for which she’d paid about $6,000.
But a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent with the Department of Homeland Security killed that dream when he denied her entry.
“I was turned away, I was told, because I had a hospitalization in the summer of 2012 for clinical depression,’’ said Richardson, who is a paraplegic and set up her cruise in collaboration with a March of Dimes group of about 12 others.
The Weston woman was told by the U.S. agent she would have to get “medical clearance’’ and be examined by one of only three doctors in Toronto whose assessments are accepted by Homeland Security. She was given their names and told a call to her psychiatrist “would not suffice.’’
At the time, Richardson said, she was so shocked and devastated by what was going on, she wasn’t thinking about how U.S. authorities could access her supposedly private medical information.
“I was so aghast. I was saying, ‘I don’t understand this. What is the problem?’ I was so looking forward to getting away . . . I’d even brought a little string of Christmas lights I was going to string up in the cabin. . . . It’s not like I can just book again right away,’’ she said, referring to the time and planning that goes into taking a trip as a disabled person.
Richardson said she’d had no discussion whatsoever with the agent at the airport about her medical history or background.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
The more interesting question is -— How did the US government get her private medical details?
Fly to Panama from Canada and take the cruise to Miami
= same difference= no TSA
Something about this story sounds bogus. Only three doctors approved by Homeland Security in Toronto to write excuse letters? I can’t imagine any idiot would write such a requirement and then pick only three to accept waivers. There’s some fakeness to this story.
Heck, currently, we have over one million Americans who are certified or need-to-be-certified as nuts....walking around the US. Does Homeland Security think one more nut from Canada would make any difference?
Every single person in the world needs to think about the the power of the US government & their constant & growing abuse of that power.
Under the rules of HIPAA that requires the protection and confidential handling of protected health information....she has one hell of a case against DHS.
a 10-day Caribbean cruise for which she’d paid about $6,000.
_____________________________________
she should have been denied entry just on that stupidity...
I think this is a made up story.
RE: she should have been denied entry just on that stupidity...
Well, if stupidity is the measure of entry to the USA, then the tens of millions of people who voted for Obama should be deported. :)
Yeah, I can see the case now: Crazy Canadian’s Delusions vs US Government.
People on thIs thread would buy the Brooklyn Bridge.
When word gets out that this sort of thing happens people will be very reluctant to visit any mental health professional at all. The result will be unpredictable behavior of individuals at unpredictable times, leading to a breakdown in society. And of course, Martial Law to maintain law and order.
Unintended consequences or part of the plan?
who pays $6,000 for a Caribbean cruise ???
are we supposed to feel sorry for her because she spent so much money ???
If she had paid a more reasonable $1,000 this story might have more merit...
There was a time in our nation's history when I would have dismissed such a story immediately. But things have changed drastically under the Obama regime. Nothing sounds far fetched now.
I know what you mean.
Yet, this doesn’t pass the smell test.
” Only three doctors approved by Homeland Security in Toronto to write excuse letters?”
It’s actually believable. When I was applying for my green card to emigrate to the US from Canada there was only ONE clinic you could go to, as per the application, for the medical exam. That clinic held the “yay or nay” as to whether or not you were accepted medically.
I googled and found a CBC story on this, so who knows?:
http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/toronto/story/1.2444960
“who pays $6,000 for a Caribbean cruise ???”
Paraplegics booking through March of Dimes?
If you read the article you see she is a celebrity depressive who has written a book about it.
She told the world, the NSA or whomever she decries didn’t have to
Still, I doubt the entire story now more than ever.
Can we say lagging sales, publicity, sales pick-up = royalties?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.