Former Vice President to Barack Obama, Joe Biden is set to become the 46th US President after a surge of votes across the nation. His opponent, Donald Trump, claimed the 2020 US election was “far from over” and has threatened to mount legal challenges against the current results over unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. President-elect Biden will be the oldest president in US history and will turn 77 later this month, which causes concern for some.
Dr Bandy X Lee, an anti-Trump campaigner and forensic psychiatrist, questioned both hopeful leaders’ mental health ahead of the election on November 3.
She told Express.co.uk that better insurances should be taken ahead of a candidate taking office – regardless of the winner.
Dr Lee, who worked at Yale School of Medicine for 17 years and is a consultant for the World Health Organisation, felt there was an “incredible omission” in the US election process.
She said: “I still recommend that all presidential and vice-presidential candidates take fitness tests before assuming office.
“It is an incredible omission that a commander-in-chief is not required to take even the routine test.”
Military officers, law enforcement personnel and “those performing mundane jobs such as toxic waste removal” all “must take” this test to assess their fitness for the job, according to Dr Lee.
She expressed specific concern because of the “increased likelihood” that those with “dangerous behavioural tendencies” will vie for powerful roles.
Dr Lee told Express.co.uk: “Positions of power disproportionately attract individuals who are dangerously disordered.”
Despite her fears, she noted there was “nothing alarming” about President-Elect Biden such as “dangerousness or unfitness” in her professional opinion.
Previously, she voiced concern over Mr Trump – especially after his comments in September about the “peaceful transfer of power”.
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He told the public: “We stand together as one America. We will rise stronger than we were before.”
Mr Biden will hope to bring an end to tensions and unify the US after a polarised split between himself and the former President.
In his speech, he said: “It is time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”
To read more of Dr Bandy X Lee’s work visit here. https://bandylee.com/