Former White House doctor Jonathan Reiner has raised concerns about President Donald Trump's health, saying the US public "deserves answers" about his cognitive and physical abilities. Reiner, who served as cardiologist for Vice President Dick Cheney, wrote in the New York Times that the president has not looked well over the past year, with visible physical ailments.
Visible signs and medical tests
Trump has sparked health fears in recent months by appearing to fall asleep in public, displaying visible bruising and swelling, and undergoing a flurry of medical tests. Reiner noted that the president was evaluated by a record-breaking 22 consultants earlier this year and that details behind his prominent hand bruising and leg swelling remain unclear.
Reiner also pointed to the president's repeated cognitive tests, questioning the reasons behind them. He described the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which Trump has boasted of acing, as "a brief and basic screening tool, with simple questions (draw a clock, identify a camel), often performed in response to a concern from the patient or a member of the family."
Call for a health panel
Reiner criticised the historical reluctance of White House officials to be forthcoming about occupants' health. He suggested that Congress establish a panel "to assess the health and fitness of the president" in this and future administrations. Such a panel would address the president's evaluation by consultants and the details of his bruising and swelling.
Reiner wrote: "The president [also] often appears to struggle to stay awake, signs of a condition doctors refer to as excessive daytime somnolence. There are several possible causes, some of which could have serious complications if left untreated."
White House response
The White House has insisted Trump remains in "excellent health" and demonstrates "strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical function." A spokesperson told the Daily Beast: "If it quacks like a duck, it may actually just be a Democrat hack doctor. President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible, and energetic president in American history, and any so-called medical professionals engaging in armchair diagnosis or false speculation for political purposes are clearly breaking the Hippocratic Oath they’ve sworn to."
