President Joe Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, has clarified the reasons behind the visits of Parkinson’s expert Dr. Kevin Cannard to the White House, which occurred at least eight times over eight months. O’Connor explained that Cannard is the neurological specialist who has examined President Biden during his annual physicals. as reported by The NY Post.
In a letter released on Monday, July 8, O’Connor confirmed that Cannard’s frequent visits do not indicate repeated examinations of Biden. Instead, Cannard provides care to other individuals as well. “Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, [Cannard] 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,” the letter reads, according to ABC News.
O’Connor emphasized that many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Cannard’s regular visits are part of his general neurology practice. He also noted that Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical exams.
During Biden’s last physical, no signs of Parkinson’s disease were found, according to O’Connor. He added that he had obtained permission from both Biden and Dr. Cannard to share these details.
O’Connor also endorsed Cannard’s expertise and work, noting that Cannard has been the Neurology Consultant to the White House since 2012. “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 wrote.
In a letter from February, O’Connor had noted that a neurologist evaluated Biden as part of his annual physical exam, but found no signs of Parkinson’s. “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,” the report from CBS News.
The February report confirmed that the 81-year-old president continued to be “fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.”
