The Toronto Star reports that Ellen Richardson, a Canadian citizen was recently prevented from flying to NYC. The reason cited by U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Richardson was hospitalized for mental health issues last year and therefore required special clearance to cross the border. No word yet from the U.S. folk as to how or why they might have access to Richardson's confidential medical history.
The agent gave her a signed document which stated that “system checks’’ had found she “had a medical episode in June 2012’’ and that because of the “mental illness episode’’ she would need a medical evaluation before being accepted.U.S. Customs and Border Protection media spokeswoman Jenny Burke said that due to privacy laws, “the department is prohibited from discussing specific cases.’’MP Mike Sullivan said what has happened to his constituent is “enormously troubling. . . . How did U.S. agents get her personal medical information?’’
Read the full Star article here.
