I often tell medical students and residents that you can determine much of what you need to know about a patient from the doorway, before you even lay your hands on them. This is particularly relevant in my field of pediatric hospital medicine where I am tasked with assessing the mental status, hemodynamic status, neurologic status, and respiratory status (among other things) of patients who range in developmental level and age. It isn't easy, but over years of medical training we learn to assess much about our patients from afar.
Are they somnolent, irritable, or delirious? Do they have signs of chronic disease like skin changes, changes in body habitus, or abnormal muscle bulk? Do they have abnormal movements? Are they in respiratory distress? Do they have signs of mental illness like abnormal speech or behaviors? We are professionally trained observers of human wellness (and sickness).
Medical students are also taught not to diagnose people who aren't under their care. We are told to avoid making assumptions about the diagnoses of people we see on TV or in the news. That's because we lack the context and objective data necessary to appropriately make a fully informed medical assessment in these situations. But when it comes to electing the next president of the U.S., we deserve that objective data. We are talking about the leader of the free world here. This isn't an entry-level position.
We, the voters, have a right to know if presidential candidates are up for the job. And that is exactly why it is standard for presidential candidates to release their medical records -- a standard that Donald Trump seems to think doesn't apply to him, as evidenced by his failure to release medical records this election cycle.
Many of us -- physicians and other healthcare providers -- feel uneasy about Trump's attempt to obfuscate questions about his health, particularly in light of the fact that if elected he will be the oldest person to become president. He has also demonstrated increasingly erratic behavior in recent weeks.
Trump on interviews and public appearances, which has led to questions about his health and stamina. When he does speak publicly, he often jumps from topic to topic, rambling and repeating himself, and leaving sentences unfinished, about his mental acuity. Recently, he (at what was supposed to be a town hall) staring at the crowd, periodically swaying back and forth while listening to music. Any physician who witnessed an almost 80- year-old person (let alone a person who, if hired, would be representing us on the world stage and have access to the nuclear codes) display this behavior would be concerned, clinically.
But even if he was exhibiting zero concerning signs, we absolutely still deserve objective data to show that he is fit to serve, at least physically. We must hold all of our candidates to the same standard. We must insist that the rules apply to him, too. Vice President Kamala Harris released a comprehensive medical report, signed by her actual primary care physician, on October 12. It was so comprehensive we all now know her Vitamin D level (it's 22.2 ng/mL, for the record) and what brand of allergy medication she takes (Allegra). The letter concludes by saying she has the "physical and mental resiliency" to be Commander-in-Chief.
In contrast, about a year ago Trump posted on Truth Social that included statements like "His physical exams were well within the normal range," "His cognitive exams were exceptional," and "His most recent extensive laboratory analysis remains well within normal limits." If physicians could assess and report a person's health status with this level of obscurity, our notes would all be short and medical school would last about 6 weeks. This letter does not qualify as a medical record.
And this is exactly why I, along with hundreds of other healthcare providers, recently calling on Trump to release his more detailed medical records.
This isn't just about rules applying to everyone and this isn't about partisanship. If Trump wants to convince voters he is physically fit to serve, he needs to release his medical records. Swing state voters agree. in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin found that 64% to 68% of registered voters believe Harris has the mental and cognitive health to serve as president, while only 47% to 49% of voters said the same about Trump.
The voters are clear: if he wants the job, he needs to prove he is up to it. And until he does, we will just be left with our assessment from the doorway.
is a pediatrician in Washington, D.C. She is a senior advisor at Everytown for Gun Safety and the CEO and founder of Their Future PAC. She was the 2022 Democratic nominee for Congress in South Carolina's 1st congressional district.