McConnell cleared for work, physician attributes symptoms to concussion | CPT PPP Coverage

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The Attending Physician of Congress cleared Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to work on Thursday. The doctor cited McConnell recovering from a concussion as the cause of an episode Wednesday in which he abruptly stopped speaking for roughly 30 seconds at an event in Covington, Kentucky.

This is the statement released to the public by The Attending Physician Dr. Brian Monahan:

I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned. Occasional light headedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration.

The incident is similar to an episode McConnell experienced at the U.S. Capitol late last month and is likely to raise additional questions about the fitness of the 81-year-old to lead the Senate Republican caucus.

This is the first time McConnell’s team has acknowledged that the freezing episodes could be attributed to effects from his fall and concussion in March, which sidelined him for nearly six weeks.

President Joe Biden spoke with McConnell by phone on Thursday following the incident, and shared with reporters what the two discussed.

“It’s not at all unusual to have the response that sometimes happens to Mitch when you’ve had a severe concussion. It’s part of, it’s part of the recovery. And so I’m confident he’s going to be back to old self,” Biden said.

McConnell’s health scare has attracted national attention because of his position and influence in the Republican party.

Dr. Brian Clardy is an Associate Professor of History at Murray State University. Clardy is quick to remind people that Kentucky was once a Democratic stronghold, but McConnell played a large role in reversing that.

“I would even dare say that Mitch McConnell has helped to restore or build up the power of the Republican party in Kentucky in the sense that he has made it a majority party within his lifetime,” Clardy said.

He said McConnell’s position has given him the opportunity to help Kentucky over the decades, and that will change if McConnell retires or chooses not to run for another term.

“If he decides either to retire now or to wait until 2026 not to run again that loss is going to be felt within the Republican party and certainly throughout the state. As a Majority Leader and Minority Leader during his junctures and since he’s been in the Senate longer, it’s going to leave Kentucky sort of a couple of steps back when it comes to getting what it wants,” Clardy said.

Clardy said that while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has been able to successfully help Kentucky over the years, Sen. McConnell has been proven to do more.

“Being the party floor leader he can get a whole lot of things done and he has done so. Sen. McConnell has brought home the bacon and I’m not saying that Sen. Paul can’t, but he’s going to have a little bit more difficult time than someone who didn’t have that much seniority as McConnell has had,” Clardy added.