- According to some rumors, John Fetterman’s neck led him to hospitalization. However, this is not true.
- Senator John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Wednesday for treatment of clinical depression.
- Despite experiencing depression intermittently throughout his life, the symptoms became more severe in recent weeks.
According to some rumors, John Fetterman’s neck led him to hospitalization. However, this is not true.
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Wednesday for treatment of clinical depression, according to a statement from his office.
The choice to seek psychiatric assistance reveals the severe physical and psychological issues Mr. Fetterman has been facing since his stroke last year, which have been exacerbated by the hurdles of making the transition to the Senate.
Despite experiencing depression intermittently throughout his life, the symptoms became more severe in recent weeks.
His wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, wrote in an email to supporters that John Fetterman did not naturally seek the role of discussing his health, especially after what he went through in the past year.
However, she expressed her pride in him for seeking help and taking steps to receive his care. Although the family is facing difficult days ahead, she requested compassion on the path to recovery.
Mr. Fetterman’s aides said that their primary focus is currently on his recovery, and it is uncertain how long he will stay at Walter Reed, but they anticipate it will be longer than a few days.
Exploring John Fetterman’s health condition
Since January, John Fetterman has been fully dedicated to his new job, attending various caucus meetings, committee hearings, and other high-profile events like President Biden’s State of the Union address.
He has been living alone in Washington during the week while his family remains in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
As a stroke survivor, he has faced numerous challenges, including auditory processing issues. However, his colleagues in the Senate have been supportive, making various adjustments to accommodate him.
The sergeant-at-arms has provided live audio-to-text transcription for Mr. Fetterman’s committees. In contrast, a monitor has been installed at his desk so he can follow proceedings with closed captioning.
His Democratic colleagues have also grown accustomed to communicating with him through a tablet that transcribes their words.
On May 13, Fetterman had a stroke, which kept him off the campaign trail for 13 weeks. When he returned at an August rally, some of his supporters noticed that he was not back to his previous self.
However, Fetterman has not made his medical records or doctors accessible to reporters, which has left voters in a difficult position.
Without hard facts from medical professionals, voters must make their own assessments based on clues from his public appearances.
While Fetterman’s use of a closed-captioning system during interviews and debates has drawn criticism from some of his opponents, it is a standard accommodation for someone recovering from a stroke.
The lack of transparency on Fetterman’s health is concerning. Criticizing Fetterman’s stroke as a potentially disqualifying development is not a good look, especially for a doctor on the ballot.
The ableist privilege displayed towards Fetterman could have even helped him, as he raised $1 million after his first in-person interview using closed captioning.
Fetterman’s health is an essential issue for voters to consider when deciding between him and his opponent. However, it is unfair to dehumanize Fetterman because of his health issues.
The Senate has a history of accommodating senators with health issues, and minor tweaks are often made to accommodate people with disabilities.
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