Biden is not being treated for Parkinson’s, White House says
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Concerns that US President Joe Biden might be suffering from an undisclosed illness have risen since he stumbled in his debate.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden is not being treated for Parkinson’s disease and has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals, the White House said on July 8, after The New York Times reported that visitor logs showed a doctor specialising in the illness visited the White House at least eight times from August through March.
Concerns that the President might be suffering from an undisclosed illness have risen since Mr Biden stumbled, appearing frail and losing his train of thought at times, in his June 27 debate against Republican Donald Trump
Dr Kevin O’Connor, the White House doctor, issued a letter on the night of July 8 that said Mr Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his normal annual physical.
Mr Biden is battling criticism from some Democrats
A Reuters review of White House visitor logs showed that Dr Kevin Cannard, a neurologist and movement disorders specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, visited the White House eight times from August through March.
Dr Cannard has co-authored research on treatment for early Parkinson’s disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre.
Dr O’Connor said Dr Cannard’s visits to the White House were part of his neurological clinics aimed at supporting “thousands” of active duty members assigned in support of White House operations and not to treat the P
Dr Cannard’s visits to the White House were first reported by The New York Post on July 6.
One former White House official, who worked for Mr Biden when he was vice-president under then President Barack Obama and as president, was treated by the same doctor for migraines in 2016, the former official told Reuters.
The doctor came to the White House once a month then as part of his rotation, the individual said.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre refused to confirm or elaborate on Dr Cannard’s visits.
At the media briefing, she was frequently challenged by reporters and said she wanted to respect the privacy of all involved for security reasons.
She said Mr Biden had seen a neurologist three times connected to his annual physical exam.
She did not explain Dr Cannard’s presence at the White House but suggested it might be connected to treating some of the military personnel who work at the White House complex.
“There are thousands of military personnel that come to the White House, and they are under the care of the medical unit,” she said. REUTERS
