Importance Score: 78 / 100 🔴
Spotlight on Former White House Physician After Biden’s Prostate Cancer Revelation
Following the concerning news of Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis, scrutiny is now directed toward Dr. Kevin O’Connor, his former White House physician. The focus centers on whether regular screenings were conducted during Biden’s time in office, potentially affecting the stage of the diagnosed prostate cancer.
Biden’s Diagnosis: An Aggressive Form of Prostate Cancer
On Sunday, announcements from Biden’s team confirmed that the 82-year-old has been diagnosed with an aggressive type of prostate cancer. Medical experts suggest it may have been developing undetected for several years while he served as president.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor’s Role as Physician to the President
As Physician to the President, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, affectionately referred to as “doc” by Biden, held responsibility for managing all of the former president’s medical evaluations, prescriptions, and routine examinations.
Medical professionals have indicated to the Daily Mail that oversight of blood work and prostate health evaluations would have likely fallen under his direct responsibility.
Dr. Howie Forman, a professor at Yale specializing in radiology, biomedical imaging, public health management, and economics, stated: “It is inconceivable that this was not being followed before he left the Presidency.”
Controversy Surrounding Biden’s Health Reports
Despite medical indications suggesting the cancer’s prolonged development, Dr. O’Connor previously issued a clean bill of health for Biden the previous year, without any reported indications of prostate cancer testing.
This potential lapse has resulted in Biden’s cancer advancing to his bones, significantly reducing the prospects of a full recovery. This raises questions about the consistency of prostate cancer screening.
Early Detection Through Blood Tests: Detecting Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer detection typically involves a straightforward blood test that identifies proteins produced by the prostate gland. This test boasts detection rates of approximately 90% for individuals with the disease.
Dr. O’Connor’s Longstanding Relationship with the Biden Family
Dr. O’Connor served as the former president’s personal physician for over a decade, even providing comfort to Biden’s son, Beau, during his battle with brain cancer.
The White House physician is tasked with coordinating all of the president’s health requirements and communicating any health-related matters to the public.
All evaluations, including cancer screenings, undergone by Biden would require the approval and evaluation of this physician.
Appointment as White House Physician
- Dr. O’Connor was appointed White House Physician shortly after Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
- He was personally selected by the president following the dismissal of Donald Trump’s doctor.
- A graduate of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992.
- He is a 22-year US Army medic who assisted Biden’s son James in establishing a healthcare initiative for veterans.
Their collaboration extended to counseling Beau on treatment alternatives and disease progression, as documented in the president’s memoir, “Promise Me Dad.”
He assisted in reassuring Beau during a craniotomy procedure for glioblastoma.
Past Criticisms and Controversies
Dr. O’Connor has faced previous public criticism.
Texas representative Ronny Jackson previously accused Dr. O’Connor and the Bidens of concealing Biden’s cognitive decline, alleging it stemmed from the doctor’s personal connection with the Biden family.
Jackson stated last year, “Kevin O’Connor is like a son to Jill Biden — she loves him. It’s crazy.”
“Kevin O’Connor was in that job on day one of the Biden administration because they knew they could trust Kevin to say and do anything that needed to be said or done and cover up whatever needed to be covered up.”
“He is part of the Biden family.”
Cognitive Test Omission and Health Assessments
- Dr. O’Connor stated last year that Biden did not require a cognitive test, despite numerous requests ahead of the election.
- He also claimed Biden had not consulted a neurologist ‘outside of his annual physical.’
- Dr. O’Connor’s comprehensive evaluation in February indicated that the former president experienced sleep apnea, acid reflux, an irregular heartbeat, elevated cholesterol, allergies, arthritis, and nerve damage in his feet.
There was no recorded instance of Biden undergoing a prostate exam. Dr. O’Connor also told the New York Post Biden was in ‘excellent health.’
This decision may align with the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations against prostate cancer screening for men over 70.
The task force cites potential concerns such as overdiagnosis, overtreatment, false positives, and the typically slow progression of prostate cancer, often leading to death with, rather than from, the ailment.
In this view, the risks affiliated with treating the cancer outweigh the benefits.
However, some medical professionals suggest that Biden’s circumstances warranted an exception to this guideline based on his position while in the White House.
Dr. Howie Forman stated on Monday that a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test would have indicated cancer “for some time before this diagnosis,” considering its aggressive nature.
“It’s just so odd to discover this with bone [metastasis] in a man of his stature and [with his] access to care,” he added.
White House Response to Biden’s Prostate Cancer
In light of Biden’s diagnosis, current White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that President Trump ‘trusts’ his physician, Captain Sean P Barbabella.
She commented: “The White House physician we have here is phenomenal. The team of physicians that take care of the president, particularly at Walter Reed Medical Center, are great.”
“The president had his physical recently, as you know, he had, perfect results. He’s in very good shape.”