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 Monday (Jul 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 Biden might be suffering from an undisclosed illness have risen since he stumbled, appearing frail and losing his train of thought at times, at his Jun 27 debate against Republican Donald Trump.
Dr Kevin O’Connor, the White House doctor, issued a letter on Monday night that said Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his normal annual physical.
Biden is battling criticism from some Democrats that he lacks the mental acuity to stand as their nominee against Trump in the Nov 5 presidential election. Biden has, however, said he will not abandon his campaign, telling MSNBC via phone on Monday that he was “not going anywhere”.
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 Center, visited the White House eight times from August through March. Cannard has co-authored research on treatment for early Parkinson’s disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
O’Connor said 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 president.
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