America’s Gerontocracy Needs a Public Physician
Congress should create an office of physicians that report to the public on American leaders’ medical fitness for duty.
The current system of assessing and reporting on the health of U.S. elected officials is lacking, leading to widespread speculation and conspiracy theories. Six elderly members of Congress have died this term alone, and others have demonstrated mental decline. Younger members have also had episodes of incapacity. Historically, elected leaders have argued for privacy regarding their health and discretion about leaving office, but this has not worked in the public's interest.
As a geriatrician, the author believes the U.S. needs a system to oversee the fitness of its leaders to serve. This system would be called the Office of the Medical Adviser (OMA), comprised of medical personnel designated to evaluate the health and cognitive well-being of elected officials. The OMA would assess members every two years, using period evaluations, referrals to specialists, and additional testing if necessary.
The office would release brief, structured documentation about a member's health status without revealing irrelevant details. The OMA would only assess issues relevant to someone's ability to meet the demands of their position. The proposed office would be similar to the medical evaluations required in other high-stakes professions such as hospitals, the military, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
This system would provide transparency and ensure that elected officials can reliably fulfill their duties.
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