5 questions about Biden's health answered as concerns over President's fitness grow after debate

Five key questions about Joe Biden's health as concerns rise following debate with Donald Trump

President Joe Biden's recent performance at the June 27 presidential debate has sparked a wave of concern regarding his age, health, and overall ability to effectively lead the federal government. During the debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump, Biden's answers were often confused and at times indecipherable. Administration officials attributed these issues to a combination of a head cold, jet lag, and inadequate preparation at Camp David. However, at 81 years old, Biden's health has become a focal point for many voters as the November election approaches. Dr Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician, made his first public comment since the debate late Monday, July 8, following White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's struggle to address questions about the president's health during a news briefing earlier that day.

1. Frequency of medical consultations

Addressing concerns about how often the president sees a doctor, Jean-Pierre insisted that Biden undergoes extensive yearly physical exams. She said that many Americans might not grasp the extent of the medical care available to the president, noting that most people are fortunate to see their doctors once or twice a year. In contrast, the president's medical unit is located “just steps down from the residence” at the White House. According to Jean-Pierre, Biden engages in a “verbal check-in with his doctor while he's exercising” a couple of times a week, and he had such a check-in on Monday following the debate. Initially, there was confusion about whether Biden consulted his doctor regarding his cold post-debate. The White House first stated that no medical exam had occurred, but later clarified that a “short verbal check-in” took place, during which it was determined that no exam was necessary.

2. Neurological evaluations

Regarding whether the president has seen a neurologist, Jean-Pierre confirmed that Biden has seen a neurologist three times. “He has seen a neurologist three times,” she said. “Not more than that.” She repeatedly stressed, using the phrase "three times" seventeen times during the briefing, that these consultations were solely part of his annual physical exams. Jean-Pierre refrained from specifying where these neurological evaluations took place, whether at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or elsewhere, stating, “I don’t have anything to state as to location.”

3. Findings on neurological diseases

Inquiries into whether Biden's physical exams revealed any signs of Parkinson's or other neurological diseases were addressed by Jean-Pierre, who referred to the president's most recent physical report issued in February. This report, cited by Jean-Pierre on Monday, indicated that “an extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring,” with no findings suggestive of a stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, or ascending lateral sclerosis. The letter from Dr O'Connor further stated that no tremors or “motor weakness” were detected and that Biden “demonstrates excellent fine motor dexterity.”

4. Visits from a Parkinson’s specialist

Questions also arose about why Dr Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's research, had visited the White House eight times between July 2023 and March of the following year. Jean-Pierre did not confirm Cannard's name or the purpose of his visits, citing security reasons and noting that the White House medical unit provides care to a broad range of individuals, not just the president. She explained, “There are thousands of military personnel who come on to this White House. Many of them get the care from the White House medical unit and so we need to be super careful.” Later on Monday, Dr O'Connor released a letter, with permission from both Biden and Cannard, confirming that Cannard was the neurologist who evaluated the president during his three physicals since taking office. O'Connor clarified that most of Cannard's visits to the White House were related to his role as a specialist with the White House Medical Unit, treating a variety of neurological issues over the past twelve years. Cannard made similar visits during the Obama administration, as shown in visitor logs, and during the Trump administration, according to an anonymous source familiar with the matter. Additionally, Cannard had one visit with Biden’s personal physician in January, weeks before the president’s February physical. O'Connor reiterated that the findings from that physical did not indicate any neurological disorder, stating, “President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical.”

5. Transparency of medical records

When asked if Biden could waive his rights and make his full medical records public, Jean-Pierre responded that the president had already “shared a comprehensive medical report that is pretty detailed” and comparable to the reports provided by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush. She referenced the precedent set by Senator John McCain, who, during his 2008 presidential campaign at the age of 71, allowed reporters to review over 1,100 pages of his medical records, as reported by the Associated Press.