Pathetically Weak Denial

The National Parkinson Foundation has received several questions about whether Hillary Clinton has Parkinson's disease (PD).

The allegations that Hillary Clinton suffers from Parkinson's disease have been reviewed by NPF's National Medical Director, Michael S. Okun, MD, and by others from NPF's Centers of Excellence network and been unanimously dismissed by every Parkinson's expert who has weighed in.

"I have reviewed the video footage and some of the recent claims that Hillary Clinton is suffering from Parkinson's disease. Video analysis and a review of available information does not in any way support a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease," stated Dr. Okun. "This recent flurry of misinformation on social media provides a great opportunity for the public to be educated on the many features of Parkinson's disease."

"These rumors demonstrate the lack of awareness of Parkinson's even among many physicians," said Peter Schmidt, PhD, the foundation's Senior Vice President of Research Programs and Chief Mission Officer. "While Secretary Clinton does not show signs of Parkinson's in the opinions of senior neurologists, even if she did, a diagnosis of Parkinson's should not be seen as a disqualifying condition for high office — and, in fact, in recent times it has not been. We have many people with Parkinson's who have succeeded in very challenging jobs, including Senators, Congressmen, an Attorney General of the United States, and an astronaut who performed admirably in challenging jobs while living with Parkinson's.  People with Parkinson's make amazing contributions in our society every day."

The National Parkinson Foundation offers a toll-free Helpline staffed by nurses and social workers who are experts in Parkinson's and available to answer questions relating to the disease. The Helpline can be reached at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) orhelpline@parkinson.org.

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You will note here that the good Doctor Okun states he has reviewed the video footage and some of the recent claims, video analysis and a review of available information does not support a PD diagnosis. You will also note he does not say he examined the patient. He points out his organization has received several questions about this issue. Really! We have another question for you, sir,  how much pressure did you receive to put this bulletin out?

This is an interesting denial for many reasons. He says he looked at the tapes and some of the recent claims and they do not indicate Hillary Clinton has Parkinson's disease. Interesting, he doesn't go further and rule out Parkinson's-like diseases that mimic PD. Yet he casually drops in the part about other PD experts without naming them or giving an exact number, a detail he will no doubt probably not overlook in the future.

Then you have this arrogant comment by Peter Schmidt, PhD, the foundation's Senior Vice President of  Research and Chief Mission Officer. We can only speak for us and we're really impressed by your title. With all due respect to you and your big title, you make a statement in your summary you are not qualified to make. That is, even if she has PD it should not be seen as a disqualifying one for high office. One is aware of your research endeavors. And your huge study on PD and your smart phone work, but until one can see a valid medical practitioner's license you remain unqualified to make that statement.

We challenge the good PhD Peter Schmidt to come forth and lecture all the honest, hard-working medically competent practitioners across America who are so woefully lacking any awareness of PD patients and the course of what is a very nasty disease. We further challenge Dr. Schmidt to tell us how many PD patients he's personally treated in and out of clinic. Not researched, but treated. 

The second part of his statement is even more obvious. It's one of those letters that are popular in the medical profession, damning with faint praise. In this case, the reverse. Here you get even if she does have PD it's not debilitating. He then rolls off the obligatory examples, concluding with an often used PC tactic:: "People with Parkinson's make amazing contributions in our society every day."

The question, sir, is a pure one, the kind people like you never enjoy. Let me give an example, one you can even understand. It's a pure question that requires a pure answer. Do you want to have a Myocardial Infarction this week? Does she have PD? That's the question, sir, not what people who unfortunately have been stricken with this terrible disease have contributed to society. Many of us know that. In fact, many of the examples you gave made most of those contributions before their disease progressed and there at present is little way to objectively determine how fast PD will progress since each case is individual. So, kind sir, there's a certain disingenuousness here. We also know that a good percentage suffer from dementia, even delusions, that have to be treated with powerful anti-psychotics.

You conveniently leave out that there is no accurate time table to tell when in the course of the disease those delusions begin and when they end. In fact, earlier this year, as we are sure you are aware, the FDA approved a new PD  medicine that apparently doesn't impact dopamine levels but is able to bypass some of the harsh side effects of the anti-psychotics. 

In fact, from what we read the San Diego-based company that manufactures the drug sees the eventual market for it as a billion dollar one, a fact that you as a former investment banker can readily understand. Meanwhile, the invitation to offer lectures to all of America's decent, dedicated practitioners who are so rumor prone and lack awareness of PD is an open one.

There are some things the public needs to know. Whatever happened to Hillary that weekend, it had nothing to do with either pneumonia or dehydration. And finally, all those so-called rumors and claims about her having PD obviously cut deep to the bone for them to cough up such a pathetically weak denial as this.