Transparency has never been a hallmark of the US presidency, quite the opposite. There are many examples, but none more specific than Woodrow Wilson.
Not only did Wilson suffer from the aftermath of the Spanish flu, which had a negative impact on the handling of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I, but he also subsequently suffered a severe stroke, resulting in his wife and handler being in charge of the presidency. . his second term.
Similar dire health problems affected President Franklin Roosevelt until his death from a massive cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945. President Roosevelt was suffering from uncontrollable high blood pressure and ongoing heart disease, but the public was unaware of it.
Despite the recent exponential growth in media megaphones and surveillance, the presidency remains a bastion of obfuscation. But do Americans have a right to know about the fitness of their leaders? The answer is a resounding yes.
President Biden underwent two surgeries for a brain aneurysm in 1988, as well as suffering an intracerebral hemorrhage, which, like his recent diagnosis of chronic atrial fibrillation, could have long-term effects on his cognitive function. He has a stiff, halting gait, which his doctor, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, believes is due to an orthopedic problem. However, this gait persists and may be related to ongoing problems in the brain or spinal cord.
After his last medical examination a year ago, Mr O'Connor said a “very detailed” neurological evaluation revealed “a diagnosis consistent with cerebellar or other central nervous system disease such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or stroke.” I was relieved that there were no negative findings.” This is ascending lateral sclerosis. ”
Conspicuously absent from this evaluation was any mention of cognition, cognitive tests, or MRI scans of the brain. A year later, Biden has come under increasing scrutiny for an apparent decline in his memory that may be affecting his judgment, but there are no updates. This is wrong.
Confusing the president of Egypt with the president of Mexico over the date of his son Beau's tragic death, and claiming to have recently spoken to former French president François Mitterand and former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died in 1996. There was a time when there was widespread confusion. It's not just a gaffe to say he died in 2017. These are clearly memory losses and are likely related to a decline in cognitive function that has continued to worsen over several years.
Unfortunately, memory loss can be related to judgment and executive function. Biden's angry and dismissive response at a news conference last week was far from reassuring.
What must the president do now to reassure the American people that people like me who have serious concerns are wrong? The answer is simple. He will now have to undergo a complete neurological evaluation, including extensive cognitive testing and an MRI of his brain. If these tests are normal and he scores high, it would indicate that the media is overreacting and that the video clips (no matter how many) are cherry-picked and potentially misleading. It will help a lot.
Special Counsel Robert Hur's report on the president and his handling of classified official documents raises new concerns about the president's alleged “deteriorating memory,” but Hur is not a doctor, so these findings and concerns cannot be ignored. may be overcome by extensive medical and professional investigation. Neurological report.
FDR and Wilson notwithstanding, American voters have a right to know.
Mark Siegel, MD, is a professor of medicine at New York University Langone Health and medical director of Doctor Radio. He is a medical correspondent for Fox News and the author of the new book “Coronavirus.” The politics of fear and the power of science.
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