What Exactly is Wrong With Biden's Health? Here, We Try To Decode The Situation

The presidential debate held on June 27th has raised a myriad of brows, along with concerns over President Biden's health, age, and capability to hold such an important position and lead the government.

The muddled and occasionally not-so-intelligent reverts of President Biden during the debate with Trump have been attributed by administration officials to jet lag, head cold, and improper preparation at Camp David.

However, the whole country knows that Biden is 81, and the President finds his health to be an important concern for the voters in the upcoming elections. 

Since the debate, it was on July 8 that Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor issued the very first comment on the President's health. Here, we try to understand the situation of Biden's health with the information we have so far.

President Biden's visit to the doctor

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary shared that President Biden undergoes extensive physical exams on a yearly basis. She further explained that a majority of America doesn't know the great extent of the medical aid given to the president. The medical unit of the president actually simply "steps down from the residence", as said by Jean-Pierre. She said that in this sense, the president does a "verbal check-in with the doctor", a couple of times in a week. She also said that the president had a check-in with the doctor on Monday.

Many were speculating if Biden saw the doctor for his cold even on June 27 after the presidential debate. Initially, the White House said that there wasn't any medical exam on June 27. However, it was later expressed that Biden went through a brief "verbal check-in", but there were no exams required.

Has Biden been seeing a neurologist too?

Not more than three times. Jean-Pierre expressed that Biden has seen a neurologist three times, and not any more than that.

During the briefing, the spokesperson expressed that all three meetings with the neurologist were actually a part of the annual physical exams of the president. What Jean-Pierre did not make clear was where the President had seen the neurologist. It is still not known whether the visits to the neurologist were at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or anywhere else. “I don’t have anything to state as to location,” is what she expressed.

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Is Parkison's disease found in the physical exams?

There isn't any mention of Parkinson's disease in the report of February, Biden's most recent physical exam.

The letter expressed that a detailed neurological exam of Biden was still reassuring The exam results did not show any signs aligned with multiple sclerosis, stroke, lateral sclerosis, or Parkinson's. The letter also said that no motor weakness or tremors were detected. The letter also said that Biden demonstrated excellent fine motor dexterity. The letter was actually written by O'Connor himself, Biden's physician.

In that case, why at all did a neurologist visit the White House?

Visitor's data shows that Dr. Kevin Cannard, who is a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's visited the White House a total of eight times between July 2023 and March 2024.

Jean-Pierre. on the other hand, refused to confirm the doctor's name. She did not even confirm as to why the doctor went to the White House. She expressed to the reporters that this was because of security reasons. She further said that the White House medical unit not only treats the President, but other people as well. “There are thousands of military personnel who come on to this White House,”  she said. Many of these military personnel, as said by her, get medical care from the White House medical unit.

On Monday, O'Connor brought about a letter having the permission of both Cannard and Biden. The letter confirmed the fact that Cannard has been the neurologist of Biden. He evaluated Biden at all of his three physicals since the president took office.

However, a majority of visits of Cannard to the White House were actually under his job as a specialist of the White House Medical Unit who treats patients there for multiple of neurological concerns over so many years, as said by O'Connor.

Not only this time, but Cannard made similar visits during the administration of Obama as well, as suggested by the visitor logs.

Cannard had one visit with the personal physician of Biden in the White House Residence clinic this January. This was some time before the physical exam of the President was held in February. O'Connor further said that the results of that particular physical did not show signs of any neurological ailment.

“President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical,” said O'Connor in the letter, clearing the air for everybody.

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Finally, can the President choose to release his medical records to the public?

In the news briefing on Monday, someone asked Jean-Pierre if Biden could choose to make his complete medical records public. On this, she said that the President had released a comprehensive medical report. She said that the medical report is "pretty detailed". She further said that this act Biden is aligned with what was provided by former President George W. Bush Sen. John McCain and former President Barack Obama.

All in all, there have been concerns surrounding the health of President Biden that sparked great public scrutiny, especially after the presidential debate on June 27. The administration attributes Biden's performance in the debate to other factors, questions regarding the President's age and abilities to effectively perform his duties still persist.

Sure, the recent disclosures from Dr. Kevin O'Connor have definitely shed some light on the health regimen of Biden. Despite significant speculation, the medical reports have always pointed towards no indications of serious neurological issues like Parkinson's.

Additionally, the matter of transparency regarding the medical records of Biden has also come to light. There have been comparisons made to the past presidents who have disclosed their extensive health reports. The accessibility of accurate and detailed medical reports of the President remains a pertinent factor for both observers and voters. Factors like these influence the perceptions surrounding the abilities and readiness of the president in the upcoming elections.

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