Opinion | 14 Questions About Our Leaders’ Health

There’s been enormous debate about the health of America’s president and that of the candidates for that job. Many questions remain unanswered.

Donald Trump recently survived an assassination attempt, and there’s been little information offered about his condition in its aftermath. President Biden’s age and cognitive health have been the subject of much discussion, and he just battled Covid-19. And little is known about the overall health of the new presumptive Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.

Like all of us, these individuals have rights to medical privacy. But, given that the president is the most powerful person in the world and can alter our lives, voters want to know whether their leaders can perform the job, and do so effectively. Ideally, officials and candidates voluntarily provide this information. But some past presidents’ physicians have released only incomplete reports, or have obfuscated the truth.

Below is a partial list of questions that I and many other medical professionals (and Americans) have about Mr. Trump, Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris right now.

For former President Trump:

1) Has Mr. Trump taken any cognitive tests in the last six years. If so, which ones? And what were the results?

Mr. Trump has been making cognitive errors, mixing up the names of Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi, as well as of Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping. He said he “aced” a cognitive test four years ago. Doctors have said that the test Mr. Trump is likely referring to was not definitive, nor diagnostic.