> I don't see much liability for the TSA here as you aren't required to follow their orders in any circumstance.

You can be fined thousands of dollars for refusing to comply with a TSA agent: https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/disobeying-a...

> Before passing through the device, the plaintiff spoke to another officer, trying to explain the situation, but was told that the AIT machine had been “adjusted” so that it would not damage her spinal cord implant.

The plantiff was coerced through the scanner by immensely incorrectly trained TSA operators. Had she done as you suggested, ignored the agents orders, and just walked through security she surely would have been, at least, trespassed if not outright detained, fined, and worse.

From the article you said you've read:

> Before passing through the device, the plaintiff spoke to another officer, trying to explain the situation, but was told that the AIT machine had been “adjusted” so that it would not damage her spinal cord implant.