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Over 230 Health Professionals Urge Trump to Release Medical Records

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Over 230 doctors, nurses, and health care professionals have called on former President Donald Trump to release his medical records. This demand is rooted in concerns about his health and mental fitness as he campaigns for the 2024 presidential election.

The signatories, many of whom support Vice President Kamala Harris, argue that Trump’s advancing age and perceived declining mental acuity make it essential for him to be transparent about his health.

In a letter dated October 13, 2024, and first obtained by CBS News, the health care professionals wrote, “Trump is falling concerningly short of any standard of fitness for office and displaying alarming characteristics of declining acuity.” The letter continues, “In the limited opportunities we can examine his behavior, he’s providing a deeply concerning snapshot.”

The letter, organized by a group called “Doctors for Harris,” is not directly affiliated with Kamala Harris’ campaign. However, the group’s concerns align with Harris’ push for Trump to disclose his medical information.

The issue of health disclosure has become a significant talking point in the ongoing election, especially considering the ages of both candidates. Trump, at 78, would be the oldest president in U.S. history by the end of his term if elected. Harris, who turns 60 on Sunday, has already provided her medical records, showing her health is in good condition.

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In their letter, the doctors argued that presidential candidates have traditionally disclosed their health records. They pointed out that candidates like Arizona Senator John McCain did so during his 2008 presidential campaign. In 2020, Trump himself released the results of a physical examination in June before Election Day. However, this year, the former president has been less forthcoming with his health details.

The letter noted that without detailed health records from Trump, the public is left to “extrapolate from public appearances.” The health professionals raised concerns about Trump’s behavior, suggesting that his speeches often involve “rambling, meandering, and crudely lashing out at his many perceived grievances.” These signs, they argue, indicate possible cognitive decline, a critical issue for someone seeking the highest office in the land.

Vice President Kamala Harris has also emphasized the importance of transparency regarding candidates’ health. Over the weekend, Harris released a letter from her physician confirming that she “possesses the physical and mental resiliency” to serve as president. The letter detailed her medical history, vitals, and confirmed that her most recent physical examination was “unremarkable.”

In an interview released on Monday, Harris once again called on Trump to release his medical records, saying, “I put out my medical records. He won’t put out his medical records. And you have to ask, why is this staff doing that? And it may be because they think he’s just not ready, and [is] unfit and unstable and should not have that level of transparency for the American people.”

Harris’ team has increasingly used the contrast in age and transparency as a campaign strategy, aiming to frame Trump as a candidate who is hiding critical information from the public.

The Trump campaign has been quick to dismiss Harris’ claims. In response to her medical disclosure, the former president’s team released letters from his personal physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson. The letters, written after an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania, claimed that Trump is in “perfect and excellent health to be Commander in Chief.”

However, critics argue that these letters lack the specifics that voters need to assess Trump’s physical and mental well-being.

Trump, in his typical style, did not shy away from responding to Harris’ health-related remarks. On Monday, he questioned Harris’ mental fitness, calling for her to take a cognitive test. “Her actions have led many to believe there could be something very wrong with her,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his platform for public commentary.

Trump has frequently used cognitive tests as a talking point in defending his own mental sharpness. In an interview with CBS News in August, he claimed that he “aced” two cognitive tests, though his campaign has not provided further details about the results.

Historically, health transparency has been a crucial factor in U.S. presidential campaigns. As candidates get older, the public expects more detailed health disclosures to ensure that they are fit for the job.

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In 2008, Republican candidate John McCain, who had previously battled skin cancer, made over 1,000 pages of his medical history available to the press. This allowed voters to scrutinize his health before making a decision.

Similarly, during the 2020 election, both Trump and Joe Biden released information about their health status. This year, however, Trump’s reluctance to release his records has sparked speculation about his fitness.

Mark Lopatin, a retired rheumatologist in Pennsylvania and a signatory of the letter, echoed these concerns. “You’re talking about the most powerful man, or female, in the world,” Lopatin said. “You’re talking about a job which is probably more stressful than any other job that I can imagine. The question is, does the person who takes that job have the resources — healthwise, physically, mentally, emotionally — to deal with that?”

For Lopatin and many others, transparency is key. “It boils down to transparency and intent, and these kinds of things that I see from one candidate and not from another,” he added, referencing the openness of Harris’ health records compared to Trump’s lack of disclosure.

Polls have shown that voters are increasingly concerned about the health and cognitive abilities of the candidates. Before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, polls indicated that many voters were worried about his mental acuity. However, since Harris became the nominee, the focus has shifted to Trump.

A CBS News poll conducted in September in key battleground states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—revealed that between 64% and 68% of registered voters believed Harris has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president. By comparison, only 47% to 49% of voters expressed the same confidence in Trump.

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