Bad Medicine.

From Dr. Lawrence K. Altman, in the New York Times:

     Fifteen days before the election, serious gaps remain in the public’s knowledge about the health of the presidential and vice-presidential nominees. The limited information provided by the candidates is a striking departure from recent campaigns, in which many candidates and their doctors were more forthcoming.

     In past elections, the decisions of some candidates for the nation’s top elected offices to withhold health information turned out to have a significant impact after the information came to light. This year, the health issue carries extraordinary significance because two of the four nominees have survived potentially fatal medical problems that could recur.

     If elected, Senator John McCain of Arizona, 72, the Republican nominee, would be the oldest man to be sworn in to a first term as president and the first cancer survivor to win the office. The scars on his puffy left cheek are cosmetic reminders of the extensive surgery he underwent in 2000 to remove a malignant melanoma.

     Last May, his campaign and his doctors released nearly 1,200 pages of medical information, far more than the three other nominees. But the documents were released in a restricted way that leaves questions, even confusion, about his cancer.

     A critical question concerns inconsistencies in medical opinions about the severity of his melanoma; if the classification of his melanoma is more severe, it would increase the statistical likelihood of death from a recurrence of the cancer.

     Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, 65, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, had emergency surgery in 1988 for an aneurysm in an artery in his brain and elective surgery for a second one. His campaign released 49 pages of medical records to The New York Times late last week showing that he was healthy, but the documents did not indicate whether he had had a test in recent years to detect any new aneurysm.

     The two other nominees are younger and apparently in good health, but less is known about their medical history. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, 47, the Democratic presidential nominee, released a one-page, undated letter from his personal physician in May stating that he was in “excellent” health. Late last week, his campaign released the results of standard laboratory tests and electrocardiograms from his checkups in June 2001, November 2004 and January 2007. The findings were normal.

     Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, 44, Mr. McCain’s running mate, has released no medical information.

     There may be no serious problems with the health of any of the nominees. But absent fuller disclosure, there is no way for the electorate to know.

     I think all four of  the principles need to fully disclose results of their most recent examinations.

     Obama and Biden's compliance seems to be acceptable, while only one of the candidates is a four-time cancer survivor and 72 years-old.  

     Why is McCain not more forthcoming? And why is Sarah Palin not being required to release at least a summary of her health?

     We know that Palin thinks God is the ultimate arbiter, but I don't.

     I don't have faith in Him, let alone him.

     Or her. 

     Medical records of national candidates have long been openly released and reviewed.

     What is it that McCain/Palin doesn't want us to see?