When the President’s own doctor refuses to answer a single question about his mental fitness—citing both doctor-patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment—you have to wonder just how far Washington’s culture of secrecy will go to keep the American people in the dark.
At a Glance
- Dr. Kevin O’Connor, President Biden’s physician, refused to answer any questions before Congress about Biden’s health, invoking privilege and constitutional rights.
- The House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer, is investigating whether the White House concealed Biden’s cognitive decline.
- O’Connor’s legal team defended his silence by referencing the sanctity of medical confidentiality—and even Trump’s use of the Fifth Amendment.
- The refusal has fueled partisan debates and could impact future standards for presidential health transparency.
Doctor Ducks Congress: Accountability Hits a Brick Wall
On July 9, 2025, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Joe Biden’s former White House physician, sat before the House Oversight Committee—a panel determined to get answers for the American public about the President’s true state of health. But in a display that would make even the most seasoned bureaucrat blush, O’Connor stonewalled every single question. His excuse? Not only did he claim doctor-patient privilege, but he invoked the Fifth Amendment, refusing to incriminate himself or the administration he served. Apparently, in today’s Washington, the more powerful your patient, the less accountable you need to be.
With Republican lawmakers demanding transparency—something we used to expect as a given in a functioning democracy—O’Connor’s legal team doubled down, defending his silence by referencing President Trump’s own use of the Fifth Amendment in unrelated legal battles. Because nothing says “trust in government” quite like hiding behind the same legal shields used by mob bosses and embattled politicians. The fact that the President’s doctor—a taxpayer-funded official—can dodge every question about the commander-in-chief’s fitness for office should set off alarms for anyone who believes in checks, balances, and the basic right to know if our leaders are actually capable of leading.
Congressional Investigation Stymied by Privilege and Legal Loopholes
The House Oversight Committee, led by Kentucky’s Rep. James Comer, launched its investigation as reports and speculation about Biden’s cognitive decline reached a fever pitch. The committee, armed with subpoena power, sought to determine whether Biden’s true health status was hidden from the public—a matter of national security and trust. But O’Connor’s blanket refusal to answer left the committee spinning its wheels. Even as other White House figures, like Neera Tanden, testified there was no cover-up, the main witness with direct knowledge kept his lips sealed.
This isn’t the first time a president’s health has been shrouded in mystery. From Woodrow Wilson to FDR, history is riddled with leaders whose incapacity was hidden from the public. But in those cases, at least there was the pretense of crisis or war. Today, the only crisis seems to be a political class desperate to avoid accountability at all costs. O’Connor’s legal team cited “the sanctity of medical confidentiality,” but when you’re the doctor to the most powerful man in the free world, is secrecy more important than national stability? Or is this just another example of Washington’s elite circling the wagons to protect their own?
A Dangerous Precedent for Presidential Transparency and Public Trust
The fallout from this spectacle extends far beyond partisan bickering. By refusing to answer even the most basic questions about the President’s fitness, O’Connor’s silence sets a precedent that could make future White House physicians untouchable—no matter what’s at stake. Legal experts agree: doctor-patient privilege exists for a reason, but it isn’t absolute, especially when public safety and the functioning of our government are on the line. If the public can’t trust that their leaders are being honest about their health, what faith can we have in any other official statement coming out of Washington?
The committee’s investigation remains ongoing, but for now, the American people are left with more questions than answers. The refusal to testify has only deepened suspicions and fueled a debate over whether our leaders are above the standards they expect from the rest of us. In a nation built on the principle that no one is above the law, it’s hard to see this episode as anything less than a slap in the face to every citizen who still believes in accountability, transparency, and the right to question those in power. If this is the new normal, we can expect the walls of secrecy to grow ever higher—and the truth to become an endangered species in the halls of government.
