Speculation about US President - Spokeswoman: Biden is not being treated for Parkinson's disease
A media report on a visit of a Parkinson specialist to the White House sparked a heated exchange between the present press and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "Has the President been treated for Parkinson? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson? No, he isn't. Does he take medications for Parkinson? No," Jean-Pierre responded. At the same time, she urged the present journalists to behave respectfully. She told one journalist, Ed O'Keefe of the US broadcaster CBS, at one point, "There's no reason for you to ask me these aggressive questions."
Uncertainty over Doctor Visits to the White House
The "New York Times" had previously reported, citing official visitor protocols, that an expert for Parkinson had visited the White House eight times since the previous summer. The newspaper added that it was unclear whether the doctor had visited specifically for the President or for other reasons. The expert himself stated that he had worked as a "neurological advisor to the medical department of the White House and the President's doctor" from 2012 to 2022. Documents provided to the newspaper indicate that the expert had also visited the White House during this period.
White House Press Secretary Deflects Questions
Biden's Press Secretary deflected all questions about the doctor's visits to the White House in the past few months. She did not specify why the doctor had been in the White House or which specialists the 81-year-old Biden had consulted. "We can't name the specialists, from a dermatologist to a neurologist," she said. "It doesn't matter how much you pressure me, it doesn't matter how angry you are," she added in response to multiple questions about the visits. The President undergoes an annual health check every year, during which he consults a neurologist. "I'm telling you that he has visited a neurologist three times during his presidency."
In Biden's publicly released health report at the end of February, it was stated that there were no signs of possible strokes or Parkinson's disease, and the President "did not exhibit a tremor." Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder that primarily affects older people. The cause of the condition, also known as tremors, is the death of nerve cells in the brain. They then no longer produce dopamine, which the body normally uses to control movements. Numerous symptoms result: tremors, tense muscles, and gait and balance disorders. Additionally, there are a quiet and monotone speech and a rigid facial expression.
- The speculation surrounding potential health issues for the US President has been fueled by recent reports, such as the one published by the New York Times, which hinted at frequent visits of a Parkinson specialist to the White House.
- Despite the CBS journalist's aggressive questioning, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, reiterated that the President has not been treated or is currently not being treated for Parkinson's disease.
- The USA's government has been tight-lipped about the motives behind these mysterious doctor visits, and CBS's Ed O'Keefe was met with resistance when he pressed for more information during a recent press conference.
- With the #USElection2024 rapidly approaching, the uncertainty surrounding the President's health and doctor appointments has become a hot topic of discussion in political circles, with many analysts observing that potential health concerns could play a role in the upcoming elections.
- In an attempt to quell these concerns, the White House has emphasized that the President has undergone annual health check-ups, including consultations with neurologists, to ensure that he remains fit to govern the USA.
