Biden’s doctor releases letter justifying why Parkinson’s expert made repeated visits to White House

After a tumultuous press briefing on Monday during which the White House press corps mercillessly grilled press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on President Joe Biden's health, his status with medical exams, and just why a Parkinsons specialist was meeting with the president's own doctor over the weekend, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Physician to the President, released a letter on the president's health.

That letter was shared by Kelly O'Donnell, of the press corps. In it, O'Connor offered an explanation as to why Dr. Kevin Cannard visited the White House. He said that while the names of specialists are not usually released, in this case it because necessary "in the interests of accuracy," and that he'd "obtained permission" both from Biden and Cannard to do so.



It was revealed by The New York Times on Monday that, per White House visitor logs, a Walter Reed expert in Parkinson's, namely Cannard, visited the White House eight times in as many months. While the Times states that it is "unclear whether Dr. Cannard was at the White House to consult specifically about the president or was there for unrelated meetings," the letter from O'Connor directly addresses Cannard's visits.

The letter then read: "Dr. Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House Medical Unit since 2012. He was chosen for his breadth of experience and expertise across the specialty of Neurology. Prior to his Movement Disorders fellowship at Emory University, he had practiced as a general neurologist for six years. He is the longest serving Neurologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and in the Military Healthcare System. He has been a member of the faculty at the Uniformed Services University's medical school since 1991 and is core faculty of the Neurology Residency Program. He has numerous local and national teaching awards, and is highly regarded for his clinical skills.

"These qualities make him a valued and versatile consultant to assess and treat a wide variety of conditions. Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, he has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations. Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice. We value the contributions he has made across the many patients he has treated in support of the White House and its personnel over these years.
 

"As I have written in each of the President's medical reports, as part of the President's annual physical, he sees a team of specialists that have included Optometry, Dentistry, Orthopedics (Foot and Ankle), Orthopedics (Spine), Physical Therapy, Neurology, Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, Radiology, and Dermatology. Dr. Cannard was the neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals. His findings have been made public each time I have released the results of the President's annual physical. President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical.

"The results of this year's exam were detailed in my February 28th letter: 'An extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy. This exam did again support a finding of peripheral neuropathy in both feet. No motor weakness was detected. He exhibits no tremor, either at rest or with activity. He demonstrates excellent fine motor dexterity.

"'But a subtle difference in heat/cold sensation could be elicited as it was last year. This heat/cold sensation deficit was detected a couple of inches higher on his ankle/calf this year, which is not unexpected. There may, in fact, be day to day subjective variation of these findings, as during last year's exam, this area of sensation deficit was actually found to be smaller than the year before.'

"Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr. Cannard has been doing for a dozen years. Dr. Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems."

O'Connor was asked to testify before Congress by Rep. James Comer, who offered concerns not only about O'Connor's care of Biden, including not asking him to take a cognitive test, but about O'Connor's  involvement in Biden family business dealings. 

"Recent evidence obtained by the Committee shows Dr. O'Connor's and James Biden's involvement with Americore Health, LLC, a company that operated rural hospitals and is currently involved in bankruptcy proceedings," Comer said. "James Biden, the President's brother, used funds from Americore to pay Joe Biden $200,000 as the company was facing financial distress. James Biden received payments for $400,000 and $200,000 characterized as loans, from the company that was wired directly to his bank account," said Comer. "During his transcribed interview, James Biden confirmed Dr. O'Connor provided him counsel in connection with the alleged work he was performing for Americore."

Concerns over Biden's mental competency have been rampant since his miserable debate performance against Donald Trump in the lead up to the July 4th holiday. He appeared weak and unable to put a thought together. At one point he claimed to have fought Medicare. Trump noted at one point that he didn't know what Biden was saying and he thought perhaps Biden didn't know what he was saying either.