After the play: Should do a cognitive test

Joe Biden
The Swedish doctor: "Should do a cognitive health examination"

Oskar Forsberg

Updated 00.18 | Published 00.02

"Ask the doctor" doctor Karin Granberg Photo: Aftonbladet / Simon Eliasson

Several Democrats have urged President Joe Biden not to advance as the party's candidate in the election.

Now he himself is considering dropping out - if a doctor requires it.

- He should do a cognitive health examination, says the doctor and TV profile Karin Granberg.

Quick version

•  Several Democrats are urging Joe Biden not to run again because of concerns about his health.
• Joe Biden is considering dropping out of the candidacy if doctors deem his health condition requires it, despite his current doctor certifying that he is healthy.
•  General medicine specialist and television personality Karin Granberg recommends a cognitive health examination to evaluate Biden's mental capacity given his age.

Adam Schiff is the latest Democrat to call on Joe Biden not to continue as the party's presidential nominee.

- I strongly doubt whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November, he says in a statement.

Previously, Peter Welch, Democratic Senator from Vermont, as well as about fifteen Democratic members of the House of Representatives have urged Biden not to run.

Joe Biden himself says he will consider dropping out - if doctors say his health requires it.

The  New York Times writes.

If Biden is re-elected as President of the United States, he would be 86 years old at the end of his term. Photo: Nora Savosnick

Oldest president ever

The president has stated several times that no doctor has said he has a serious health condition.

White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor wrote after a medical examination in February that Biden is a "healthy, active, robust 81-year-old man who remains equipped to successfully carry out the duties of the presidency."

Biden is the oldest sitting president ever. Should he be re-elected in November, he will be 86 years old at the end of his term.

In the most recent medical examination, a wide range of specialists were brought in. Two orthopedists, a dentist, a physiotherapist, an ophthalmologist, a neurologist, a cardiologist, a specialist in sleep medicine, a radiologist and a dermatologist participated.

"Aging is part of life"

However, no cognitive test was performed. It is not included in the standard exam that is done every three months, but could be added if Biden or his doctor thinks it is necessary.

According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, it is not considered necessary.

Doctor Karin Granberg, specialist in general medicine and known from the television program "Ask the Doctor", does not share the White House's view.

- You must have respect for aging. If friends, relatives or others suspect cognitive failure or just think that a person needs to have a cognitive examination, I think it should be done, she says and continues:

- There is nothing strange about it, aging is part of life.

Karin Granberg says that after a test you can make a decision about how you can possibly proceed with treatment and the like.

Doktor Karin Granberg, specialist i allmänmedicin och känd från tv-programmet ”Fråga doktorn”, delar inte Vita husets uppfattning.

FACTS

Six alternatives to Joe Biden

Since Joe Biden has not been officially approved as the Democrats' presidential candidate, it is theoretically possible to choose another candidate, The Guardian reports.

Here are six possible replacements:

1. Kamala Harris, 59

Joe Biden's vice president is the one who is available if the president is prevented from carrying out his mission. If Biden were to resign voluntarily, she would automatically replace him. Over the years, she has received poor public opinion figures and she has been criticized for not measuring up as vice president.

2. Gavin Newsom, 56

Governor of California. In CNN's press room on Thursday, he shot down, according to The Guardian, all discussions about possible replacements for Biden. He is said in several quarters to be a candidate to keep an eye on.

3. JB Pritzker, 59

The governor of Illinois also said he was behind Biden, even after Thursday's debate, according to Politico. Among other things, he advocates abortion rights and gun laws and the legalization of recreational marijuana use, according to The Guardian.

4. Gretchen Whitmer, 52

Governor of Michigan. Was one of the final candidates to become vice president under Joe Biden in 2020. The Democrats' strong numbers in the midterm elections were said at the time, according to The Guardian, to be partly the merit of her governorship. For example, she advocates the right to abortion and stricter gun laws.

5. Sherrod Brown, 71 

Many were, according to The Guardian, surprised that he did not run for president in 2020. He is a senator in Ohio and is a strong voice in the American labor movement. He also advocates the right to abortion. 

6. Dean Phillips, 55

 

 Member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota. Phillips was one of the candidates in the Democratic primary earlier this year. However, he dropped out after failing to take home a single state on Super Tuesday.