The Importance of Health Disclosure in Presidential Politics: Examining the Records of Past Leaders and Proposing Solutions for the Future

It has been suggested by experts that past presidents may have concealed important health information from the public. One such example is Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s disease, which may have affected his speech and judgment during his second term before his diagnosis was made public. Other presidents, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Lyndon B. Johnson, and John F. Kennedy, also kept their health conditions hidden from the public eye.

As a result of these concerns, it is essential for presidential candidates to disclose key health information to the public. While age is not the only factor in determining a candidate’s ability to serve as president, many individuals can function well into their later years. To ensure transparency in the health status of candidates, former President Jimmy Carter established a working group on presidential disabilities in 1994 and proposed that a non-partisan panel perform medical evaluations on candidates.

Arthur Caplan, head of bioethics at New York University, emphasizes the importance of independent medical assessments for candidates. He suggests that personal physicians may withhold information that a president or candidate wishes to keep confidential. To address this issue, Caplan proposes that a panel appointed by the National Academy of Medicine and Science could perform evaluations to ensure transparency in the health status of candidates. For example, President Trump’s unconventional health note in 2016 raised concerns about the accuracy and reliability of personal physician reports.

In conclusion, it is crucial for presidential candidates to disclose their key health information to the public. Independent medical assessments performed by non-partisan panels can help ensure transparency and accountability in this area.