President Joe Biden’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, clarified on Tuesday that the president has not consulted a neurologist outside of his routine annual physical examinations. This statement follows U.S. media reports suggesting a Parkinson’s specialist had made multiple visits to the White House.
In a letter released on Monday, O’Connor addressed the speculation, affirming that Dr. Cannard, a neurological specialist, has examined President Biden during each of his annual physicals. “Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical,” O’Connor stated.
O’Connor explained that Dr. Cannard has been visiting patients at the White House for over a dozen years and was not specifically chosen for his expertise in movement disorders. This clarification came amid rising media curiosity following a New York Times report, based on official visitor logs, which revealed that Dr. Cannard had visited the White House eight times since last summer.
During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced intense questioning about the frequency of Dr. Cannard’s visits. However, Jean-Pierre did not provide further details regarding the specialist’s regular presence at the White House.
According to O’Connor, the outcomes of Dr. Cannard’s neurological examinations of President Biden have been transparently reported to the public, most recently at the end of February. The health reports consistently indicated no signs of possible strokes or Parkinson’s disease, and noted that the president exhibited “no tremor, either at rest or with activity.”
At 81, President Biden has been under increasing scrutiny regarding his mental fitness, especially following his televised debate with Republican challenger Donald Trump. This scrutiny has fueled a broader debate over whether Biden is the appropriate Democratic candidate for the upcoming November election due to his age.
President Biden has consistently dismissed doubts about his mental acuity and has refused to undergo a cognitive health test. The White House’s recent release of O’Connor’s letter seems to be an effort to quell any rumors of a potential Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Jean-Pierre reiterated at the press briefing that President Biden is not receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This uncommon move by the White House highlights the mounting pressure to address concerns about the president’s health.
