For a second time in somewhat over a month, Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze up whereas taking questions a press convention, elevating questions on his well being.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Yesterday one of the vital highly effective males in Washington was briefly and actually speechless. Whereas taking questions from reporters, Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell froze in place, gripping the lectern, silent for about 30 seconds. An aide tried to assist.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Did you hear the query, senator – operating for reelection in 2026?
MITCH MCCONNELL: Sure.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: All proper. I am sorry, you all. We’ll want a minute. Senator…
KELLY: McConnell finally appeared to get well. He took two extra questions. His spokesperson later stated he was momentarily lightheaded. However an analogous episode occurred final month. So we have now known as Dr. Ann Murray. She is motion problems division chief on the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute at West Virginia College. Dr. Murray, welcome.
ANN MURRAY: Thanks a lot for having me, Mary Louise.
KELLY: Understanding that you haven’t examined Senator McConnell – so with out asking you to make any form of analysis, simply briefly tick via what is the vary of issues which may be happening right here.
MURRAY: Yeah, I feel it is at all times essential to not simply emphasize one episode or one occasion in someone’s life but in addition to place it in context. And I feel to me, that was probably the most alarming piece – that placing this in context of different current occasions the place clearly Senator McConnell wasn’t feeling like himself is probably the most regarding factor. And it does increase important concern for an underlying medical drawback and doubtlessly even an underlying neurologic drawback.
KELLY: I imply, the – once more, not wishing to enterprise in any means in direction of hypothesis, however I’ve seen folks saying this might be something from dehydration to a partial seizure, some form of stroke. Are all of these issues on the desk when you had been, you realize, to be inspecting him as a affected person in your apply?
MURRAY: Completely. You understand, I feel you are spot on in that we should always by no means speculate about somebodys medical situation having not performed a radical historical past, an examination. However it’s regarding. And, you realize, I feel that my emphasis can be that anybody experiencing comparable signs ought to completely search medical care and have a part of that medical care be, you realize, with potential specialists if wanted.
KELLY: McConnell is 81 years previous. He missed practically six weeks of labor this previous spring after a fall that induced a damaged rib and a concussion. That concussion – is there any solution to know if that is an element right here?
MURRAY: Completely. I imply, assembly, once more, clinically inspecting him, you possibly can weigh that in. It is essential to know that concussion may cause people that undergo from them to have foggy-headedness and slower thought. However furthermore, in my thoughts, I typically train my college students that it is also placing the entire image in context and saying, is there one thing underlying that is inflicting the autumn to start with that led to the concussion? And the way will we join all of these dots? However saying that concussion can play a job – completely.
KELLY: I wish to word that Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending doctor on the U.S. Congress, stated right this moment he has consulted with Senator McConnell, additionally along with his neurology crew. He is cleared the senator to proceed along with his schedule as deliberate. Dr. Murray, does something you could have seen reviewing movies of those incidents – something you have seen increase questions in your thoughts about Senator McConnell’s means to do his job?
MURRAY: No, in no way, Mary Louise. I imply, I feel, once more, it is actually onerous to make a snap judgment off of an episode. The factor that I’d wish to emphasize is to say that whether or not someone has a medical drawback, even a neurologic drawback, does not truly imply they’re – can be at concern of not having the ability to do their job. To me, it isn’t nearly, can he do his job? You understand, if he’s cleared by medical consultants to do his job, nice. It is extra about, is he wholesome? Is he properly? Is he functioning as finest as he presumably can? And that actually is the emphasis of claiming that he wants to hunt out no matter medical care he wants and get the proper analysis and – in order that in the end he can he can really have the very best quality of life potential after which, with that, operate at his highest capability. Clearly he is a high-functioning particular person. And at no level does any medical drawback actually straight put that in jeopardy, particularly if accurately recognized and managed.
KELLY: Dr. Ann Murray is a professor of neurology at West Virginia College. Dr. Murray, thanks to your time.
MURRAY: Thanks a lot, Mary Louise. It was fantastic.
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