Recommended Citation
Mark Fisher and Sandy Sanbar,
Cognitive Decline and the U.S. Presidency: The Case of Joe Biden,
35 Health Matrix
183
(2025)
Available at:
https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/healthmatrix/vol35/iss1/7
Abstract
This article examines the intersection of cognitive health, medical ethics, and constitutional governance through the lens of President Joe Biden’s medical history and recent cognitive performance. Highlighting the absence of formal neurocognitive testing protocols for presidential candidates and sitting Presidents, it raises critical questions about transparency, accountability, and the statutory and ethical obligations of medical professionals serving in political contexts. The paper discusses Biden’s stroke history, neurosurgical interventions, and subsequent lack of documented cognitive assessments, emphasizing the implications for public trust and the constitutional duty to ensure an executive fit for office. It advocates for the implementation of standardized, objective cognitive testing regimes overseen by independent medical oversight to safeguard democratic integrity and uphold the constitutional principles of accountability and informed public leadership. This analysis underscores the urgent need for reform in presidential health disclosure practices, balancing medical confidentiality with the public’s right to informed governance. [abstract generated by AI]