White House Denies Parkinson's Diagnosis for President Joe Biden
Amid rampant rumors and speculation about President Joe Biden's health, the White House has firmly denied that he is being treated for Parkinson's disease. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden is not undergoing treatment for Parkinson's, addressing recent concerns that arose after a Parkinson's specialist, Dr. Kevin Cannard, was noted to have visited the White House multiple times.
Official visitor logs revealed that Dr. Cannard, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, visited the White House eight times between July 2023 and March of this year. These visits included at least one meeting with the president's doctor, Dr. Kevin O'Connor. Despite this, Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of protecting the president's privacy concerning his medical records.
The speculation about Biden's health intensified following his performance in a debate against former President Donald Trump on June 27, where Biden appeared stiff and incoherent. This fueled rumors about his physical and mental capability to continue leading the country and being a candidate for the upcoming November elections. Democratic leaders have even suggested that Biden step aside for a more competitive candidate.
Biden, however, has dismissed these concerns, attributing his debate performance to fatigue and maintaining that he is in good health. He mentioned in a television interview that he undergoes extensive neurological exams regularly due to the pressures of his job, which he believes negate the need for a separate cognitive exam.
Dr. O'Connor, the White House physician, confirmed that Biden has undergone detailed neurological exams as part of his annual physicals, which have shown no signs of Parkinson's, stroke, or other central neurological disorders. The most recent exam took place on February 28 at Walter Reed. Despite the presence of Dr. Cannard at the White House, it remains unclear whether his visits were specifically related to the president or part of routine consultations for the White House medical team.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates reiterated that Biden is seen by a neurologist once a year and that there have been no additional visits outside of these annual physicals. Bates also noted that specialists from Walter Reed frequently visit the White House to treat military personnel stationed there, which could explain Dr. Cannard's presence.
The White House continues to assert that there is no reason for further investigations into Biden's health beyond the regular annual physicals, despite increasing public scrutiny.
- Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, has been noted for his expertise in movement disorders and recently published an article on Parkinson's disease. His repeated visits to the White House have sparked speculation about President Biden's health, particularly in light of Biden's recent debate performance.
- The White House has emphasized that the president's medical privacy is a priority and that detailed neurological examinations have shown no signs of serious neurological conditions. Despite this, the public and political pressure regarding Biden's health continues to grow, with some Democratic leaders suggesting a need for a more competitive candidate for the upcoming elections.
