In the spring of 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was 60 years old at the time, was in a hospital bed recovering from a procedure to avoid another heart attack, as he watched television news.
Television host Tim Russert advised Cheney to consider resigning and using the remaining time he had to be with his family, according to Cheney’s physician, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who was present.
Reiner, who is still one of Cheney’s doctors and teaches at George Washington University, candidly told the vice president that he would let him know if he ever doubted his ability to do his job.
He stated that the most important thing for caregivers of unique patients is to be able to communicate honestly with them and provide standard care despite their unusual circumstances.
Reiner said President Joe Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, is currently facing this challenge.
Biden’s health has been a topic of growing concern since his awkward performance in a recent televised debate. As someone who has dealt with a stutter throughout his life, he has often made verbal mistakes, but these became more noticeable following his hesitant demeanor and incomplete sentences during the debate.
O’Connor addressed speculation about a neurologist visiting the White House multiple times in a statement on Monday, stating that the doctor treated numerous patients there and only saw the president during his annual physicals.
In February, Biden underwent neurological testing which did not reveal any signs of a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or similar issue. However, he has not disclosed the results of any cognitive tests.
Reiner suggested that if he were in O’Connor’s position, he would have recommended that the 81-year-old Biden get checked again for symptoms that he displayed during the debate and in other recent events. He also mentioned checking the 78-year-old former President Trump, as his recent public appearances have also caused concerns.
He opined that both candidates have shown behavior that justifies a cognitive test.
Balancing patient confidentiality with the needs of the public
Reiner suggested that O’Connor may be avoiding giving Biden cognitive tests because he may be afraid of the results, even though Reiner personally respects O’Connor greatly both personally and professionally.
Reiner stressed the importance of being ready to handle anything that the test may reveal. He stated that if you do not test for a certain condition, you are not obligated to disclose it.
Reiner pointed out that having the President’s doctor as part of the White House staff poses a risk. A conflict of interest may arise as the loyalty of someone on the White House team may be torn between the well-being of their patient and the interests of the President’s administration.
Reiner stated that everything that is said must go through multiple levels of approval within the West Wing administration before it is made public – this is not specific to the current time, but it has always been the case.
The president is entitled to the same level of medical privacy as any other patient, and his healthcare team can only share information with his consent.
Throughout the eight years of Cheney’s vice presidency, Reiner provided medical care for him despite his various health problems and surgeries. Despite this, the White House never interfered with or altered any of Reiner’s medical recommendations or advice to Cheney.
Reiner explained that the advantage of having him as a doctor unaffiliated with the White House hierarchy was having a patient who prioritized his health over his political career and was willing to openly discuss his health. Additionally, the fact that the patient was second in command, and not the president, was also beneficial.
The majority of the presidents’ doctors have been involved in the U.S. military, allowing them some level of separation from political matters in the White House. However, this does not guarantee total independence from political influence.
Dr. Sean Conley served as Trump’s doctor from 2018 to 2021 during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and holds the rank of Navy Commander. Dr. Reiner pointed out that this rank is somewhat low for someone who may need to inform the President of potential health issues that could affect his ability to carry out his duties.
Reiner stated that he doubts the possibility of someone informing the president that they should temporarily give up their power due to seeming ineffective.
A longstanding tradition of concealing health issues of the president.
Presidents and their physicians have a history of remaining discreet regarding their medical issues.
In 1893, President Grover Cleveland underwent two covert surgeries on a yacht to extract a cancerous tumor from his mouth. A prosthetic implant was created to replace the part of his palate that was removed, allowing him to speak with some degree of normalcy.
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson had a serious stroke that rendered him unable to perform his duties for the last two years of his presidency. It was later revealed that he had been dealing with vascular disease for 16 years prior to his election, but had never disclosed this information to the public.
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt, aged 63, ran for his fourth term in the fall of 1944, his health became a concern.
To ease concerns, FDR rode in a convertible car through all five boroughs of New York City, despite the rain. Despite the inclement weather, 3 million New Yorkers turned out to see him and he gave a speech outlining his policies that evening. He repeated this strategy in other large cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston.
However, during the Yalta conference in February 1945, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin were worried about Roosevelt’s health. Some historians suggest that he may have been experiencing minor brain bleeds which affected his negotiation skills and memory during the treaty discussions.
Roosevelt passed away on April 12, 1945 due to a severe brain hemorrhage.
Recent leaders have also experienced health problems.
President John F. Kennedy had Addison’s disease, a rare condition where the body does not produce enough essential hormones. He was diagnosed at 30 years old, but did not disclose this information publicly, even though the disease could be life-threatening.
It is possible that Ronald Reagan began to experience symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease prior to his presidency ending in 1989. He did not reveal his diagnosis until 1994 through a written letter, even though the disease can manifest many years before being officially identified.
Former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas, who ran for president in 1992, declared that his previous battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma was behind him and not a concern for his health during the campaign. However, it was revealed after withdrawing from the Democratic nomination race that he was once again fighting cancer. Tsongas passed away three years later.
Biden’s medical record
Biden has undergone a yearly physical examination throughout his presidency and has made the results public, as is the tradition for presidents. Reiner pointed out that while there is no legal requirement for presidents to do so, it has been a common practice.
In his annual physical report on February 28, the President underwent a thorough neurological examination. The results were reassuring as there were no indications of any neurological disorders like stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or ALS. Additionally, there were no signs of cervical myelopathy.
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The report listed the medications he is currently taking as follows:
- Cardiologists recommend that about a third of eligible adults take the statin Crestor to reduce their risk of heart disease, although they believe that many more people should be taking it.
- Eliquis, a medication that thins the blood, also decreases the chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
- Two medications, Pepcid and Nexium, are used to treat acid reflux.
- Medications for seasonal allergies include Allegra and Dymista nasal spray.
He has shown exceptional dedication to using a CPAP machine to help with his sleep apnea, a condition that causes frequent interruptions during sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart disease and premature death.
The medical team also assessed his rigid way of walking and found that it “has not deteriorated since the previous year.” X-rays reaffirmed the previously diagnosed arthritis.
In contrast, Trump has not disclosed any medical information for many years. According to Reiner, there is no information available about Trump’s weight or the medication he is currently taking.
“We are unsure of the events that transpired in November 2019 when he was rushed to Walter Reed on a Saturday afternoon,” he stated.
The ex-president is noticeably obese and is acknowledged to follow an unhealthy eating pattern while also neglecting physical activity.
Both men do not smoke or consume a large amount of alcohol.
Reiner believes that it is sensible for the person in control of the U.S. government and military to undergo a thorough medical check-up annually and for the findings to be disclosed to the public.
He pointed out that pilots, truck drivers, and school bus drivers, along with Secret Service agents guarding the president, all must adhere to specific physical requirements.
Why do we excuse the actions of the individual who commands the most formidable military force ever known?
