Biden’s doctor says president only had ‘annual check-up’ and Parkinson’s was not detected

US President Joe Biden’s physician took an unusual step on Monday (8) by releasing a letter with some details about neurologist Kevin Cannard’s visits to the White House, after days of speculation about the president’s health, writing that “President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual check-up exam.”

Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, cited excerpts from Biden’s most recent physical examination in February. The president’s latest health report, released by O’Connor, indicated that he had been tested for a number of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, with negative results, as did two other physical reports from Biden’s time as president.

“Before the pandemic, and after its end, he [Biden] performed regular Neurology Clinic consultations at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active duty members assigned to support White House operations,” O’Connor wrote of Cannard.

“Many military personnel have neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits WHMU [nidade Médica da Casa Branca] as part of this General Neurology practice.”

The doctor described Cannard as the “neurological specialist who has examined President Biden at each of his annual check-ups.”

“Their findings have been made public each time I have released the results of the president’s annual check-up,” O’Connor wrote. “President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual check-up.”

The letter was published the same day the White House struggled to answer questions about Biden’s neurological health after The New York Times first reported that Cannard, a Parkinson’s disease specialist, had visited the White House eight times in the past eight months, meeting at least once with O’Connor.

Earlier on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to confirm or explain the reason, citing security reasons.