The main reason I feel this way is that I can't figure out why Lt. Miller needed the wire cutters to begin with. Presumably, the cutters were intended to let Lt. Miller open his mouth if he choked on food in an emergency. However, since all he is eating is in liquid form, he wouldn't need to open his mouth to clear liquid out of it.
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine had his jaw wired shut for 3 months to correct complications from TMJ surgery, and he was limited to liquid food for that entire time (and was not issued a pair of wire cutters, BTW). Whatever he ate had to be either liquid or processed along with enough water to make it liquid through a Cuisinart (and it was quite a sight watching a Big Mac and fries spinning around in a food processor, which he did more than once). I also know a couple of doctors and a registered nurse, and all have confirmed that they have never heard of any patient with their jaw wired shut being able to eat solid food of any kind, even Jello (which had to be in liquid form).
I think that Lt. Miller's doctor is the only one who might conceivably deserve any criticism in this case. All the doc had to do was write a note that Lt. Miller could show to airport security, and I don't believe that any of this would have happened (20-20 hindsight, I know). Also, with nerve damage, Lt. Miller probably wasn't able to clearly speak to the security people to explain his situation, therefore making a note of some kind doubly important. (The story did note that Lt. Miller telephoned the news media, so I guess he was able to communicate clearly enough, after a fashion).
If there are any doctors lurking, please correct me if I'm mistaken about any of my assumptions.
Regurgitation of stomach contents prompts the mouth to open widely, allowing the contents, whether liquid or "chunky" to flow unimpeded from the throat and mouth.
The act of opening the mouth also prompts the closure of the airway, therefore lessening the chance of aspiration of the regurgitated liquid or "chunks".
Not a fool proof method, but workable, if one is able to spontaneously open one's mouth while regurgitating.
Being restricted in opening one's mouth can prompt a "panic" gasp, which will cause the aspiration of whatever is in the mouth, leading to asphixiation, and if one survives the asphixiation, to a respiratory complication and even pneumonia.
So therefore, one can now understand the need for the wire cutters.
One can also see the need to prepare for the complications presented by carrying such implements upon an aircraft, particularly during these times of hysterical, uh, er, heightened security measures.
Ait travelrs frquently experience motion sickness (see those little bags in the seat pocket?) and in that instance, a patient with a wired mandible is in big trouble.
Most of the patients I have attended carried the cutters on a lanyard around the neck. Any "screener" should have made a decent inquiry into this issue, caontacted superiors for advice, etc. The "too busy" employee is a cadidate for dismissalin my book.
Because the possibility of having to open Lt Miller's airway in an emergent situation exsists. It may be a remote possibility, but it is there just the same.
Not instucting a patient to have the wirecutters at hand is the same as leaving a signed, blank check at the bedside.