Grandmother: 'Humiliated' by TSA on Way to Mayo Clinic

A Texas grandmother of four with a gastric tube in her midsection says she was "humiliated" by the treatment of TSA agents before she boarded a flight to Minnesota for treatment at the famed Mayo Clinic.

"I felt humiliated," Melinda Deaton told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS in an interview from her Rochester hotel room Wednesday evening.

Deaton says a TSA officer at Dallas' Love Field threw out her soft foods in her carry-on bag, did not give her secondary screening in a "private room" required, and "embarrassed her," in front of other passengers.

In a statement, a TSA spokesman told WFAA, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, an investigation is underway and that, "We respect the right to privacy of the passenger in question and will reach out directly to her."

Last year, the TSA launched a toll-free helpline for Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Needs. On its website, TSA cautions passengers that some types of foods that exceed 3.4oz should be placed in a passenger's checked luggage.

Watch our story to hear from Deaton, her husband, and learn more about TSA policies.

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