‘Nothing wrong with him’: Dr Sanjay Gupta draws backlash as he calls for Biden to undergo cognitive test

WASHINGTON, DC: CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta, a renowned neurosurgeon, has ignited heated controversy by recommending that President Joe Biden undergo cognitive and neurological testing.

In an op-ed published on Friday, July 5, Gupta described Biden’s debate performance as "concerning" from a medical perspective and shared his observations with a wide audience. as reported by The Hill.

CNN's Dr Sanjay Gupta implores Joe Biden to undergo cognitive and neurological testing

In his op-ed, Gupta revealed that he wasn’t the only medical professional alarmed by Biden's recent public appearances. He reportedly received "more than a dozen calls, texts, and emails from medical colleagues" who echoed his concerns.

Gupta detailed specific behaviors that troubled him and his peers, stating, "From a neurological standpoint, we were concerned with his confused rambling; sudden loss of concentration in the middle of a sentence; halting speech and absence of facial animation, resulting at times in a flat, open-mouthed expression."

The debate in question took place under less-than-ideal circumstances for Biden. Campaign aides later disclosed that Biden had been suffering from a cold on the day of the debate. Additionally, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attributed some of the President's performance issues to jet lag from recent overseas trips.

While Gupta did not outright reject these explanations, he questioned the decision by Biden’s medical team to forgo cognitive testing.

"There are definitely aspects of cognition that decline as we age — especially fluid abilities like processing speed, attention span, and memory. This is normal and expected and doesn’t necessarily stand in the way of someone’s ability to do their job," he explained.

However, he added, "But for a minority of us, that decline is steeper and can lead to dementia."

Gupta also provided a broader context by comparing the medical histories of both Biden and former President Donald Trump. He pointed out that both have risk factors for cognitive decline. Biden’s medical history includes brain aneurysms, while Trump’s father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease at an advanced age.

Gupta also noted that Trump has shown similar behaviors, including "nonsensical rants as well as confusing names and current events".

Trump has previously undergone cognitive tests, which Gupta criticized for their lack of rigor. He found the memos regarding Trump’s health overly flattering and "unusual for medical documentation".

Gupta also highlighted the Biden administration’s refusal to release comprehensive medical records for the President, stressing the importance of transparency in assessing the cognitive and physical health of any political candidate.

"We often hear that observing a candidate on the campaign trail is the best assessment of the individual’s physical and cognitive health. The country is watching now, and that assessment gives cause for concern — and a need for transparent testing," Gupta wrote.

Dr Sanjay Gupta's op-ed discussing Joe Biden's cognitive health draws flak online

The internet’s response to Gupta’s op-ed was swift and negative, reflecting major backlash against Gupta for urging testing of Biden.

One Facebook user said, "Trump, who went off on a tangent regarding boats, sharks, and batteries, should definitely take one."

While another remarked, "We trust Dr Fauci who says he has ‘no doubt’ Biden is capable of continuing as president. Both CNN and Dr Gupta can go kick rocks."

A third user wrote, "Order an IQ test for ol' orange-face while you're at it...."

Another user commented, "Sanjay Gupta is probably not a very good brain surgeon if he can spend so much time on CNN!"

One user posted, "Right wing nutters need to have cognitive testing."

Another user mentioned, "Nothing wrong with him. Trump, on the other hand, needs it more."

A seventh user stated, "Somebody hasn't been to old rambling Trump's rallies."

Lastly, a user said, "No, Biden is just fine, he was just a little sleepy from a cold, but Trump definitely needs the cognitive test."

 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.