The White House clarified that President Joe Biden is not receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease and has not consulted a neurologist outside of his routine annual check-ups. This statement came after a New York Times report revealed that visitor logs indicated a specialist in Parkinson’s disease visited the White House multiple times between August last year and March this year.
Speculation about Biden’s health has grown, particularly after he appeared frail and forgetful during a debate with Republican Donald Trump on June 27. Despite some Democrats questioning his cognitive abilities to run for re-election, Biden affirmed on MSNBC that he remains committed to his campaign.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the White House physician, emphasized that Biden’s only neurological consultations occur during his annual physical exams. The Times report noted that Dr. Cannard, a neurologist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center who specializes in movement disorders, visited the White House eight times in the specified period.
However, Dr. O’Connor clarified that these visits were part of broader medical support for active-duty military personnel at the White House, not for treating the President.
Cannard’s visits, initially reported by The New York Post, were part of a regular rotation supporting White House operations, as confirmed by a former White House official treated by Cannard for migraines in 2016. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to provide specific details about these visits, citing privacy and security reasons but suggested they were related to the medical care of military personnel stationed at the White House.
In summary, while Dr Cannard’s frequent visits to the White House sparked rumours about President Biden’s health, official statements clarified that these visits were unrelated to any treatment for the President and focused on the broader medical support for White House staff.
