Absolutely Unimaginable This Could Happen In America

This news report out of New Mexico is so disturbing, it's hard to imagine this could happen in America. Talk about an  unreasonable search:

"The incident began January 2, 2013 after David Eckert finished shopping at the Wal-Mart in Deming. According to a federal lawsuit, Eckert didn't make a complete stop at a stop sign coming out of the parking lot and was immediately stopped by law enforcement.      

"Eckert's attorney, Shannon Kennedy, said in an interview with KOB that after law enforcement asked him to step out of the vehicle, he appeared to be clenching his buttocks. Law enforcement thought that was probable cause to suspect that Eckert was hiding narcotics in his anal cavity. While officers detained Eckert, they secured a search warrant from a judge that allowed for an anal cavity search." 

Initially the doctor on duty refused the search, citing it as "unethical." Unfortunately, after several hours, hospital personnel relented and did the search.

Here's what happened to David Eckert at that hospital:

"While there, Eckert was subjected to repeated and humiliating forced medical procedures.  A review of Eckert's medical records, which he released to KOB, and details in the lawsuit show the following happened:

"1. Eckert's abdominal area was x-rayed; no narcotics were found.  

"2. Doctors then performed an exam of Eckert's anus with their fingers; no narcotics were found.

"3. Doctors performed a second exam of Eckert's anus with their fingers; no narcotics were found.  

"4. Doctors penetrated Eckert's anus to insert an enema.  Eckert was forced to defecate in front of doctors and police officers.  Eckert watched as doctors searched his stool.  No narcotics were found.

"5. Doctors penetrated Eckert's anus to insert an enema a second time.  Eckert was forced to defecate in front of doctors and police officers.  Eckert watched as doctors searched his stool.  No narcotics were found.

"6. Doctors penetrated Eckert's anus to insert an enema a third time.  Eckert was forced to defecate in front of doctors and police officers.  Eckert watched as doctors searched his stool.  No narcotics were found.

"7. Doctors then x-rayed Eckert again; no narcotics were found.  

"8. Doctors prepared Eckert for surgery, sedated him, and then performed a colonoscopy where a scope with a camera was inserted into Eckert's anus, rectum, colon, and large intestines. No narcotics were found.  

"Throughout this ordeal, Eckert protested and never gave doctors at the Gila Regional Medical Center consent to perform any of these medical procedures."

Think that's outrageous? David Eckert has since been billed by the hospital for all the procedures and they are threatening to take him to collections.

See this must-watch news report on the case from KOB 4 in New Mexico.

For those who are interested, Daily Kos user operculum located a PDF of the lawsuit.