Trump Releases Doctor’s Letter Saying He Is In ‘Excellent’ Health
Dr. Bruce Aronwaldt's one-page report — made public by Donald Trump on his potential election rival Joe Biden's 81st birthday — does not provide any data from an exam or lab tests but says that the former president has lost weight due to "improved diet" and daily exercise.
AP:
Trump, On Biden's 81st Birthday, Releases Doctor's Note That Says He's In 'Excellent' Health
GOP front-runner Donald Trump marked President Joe Biden ‘s 81st birthday on Monday by releasing a letter from his physician that reports the former president is in “excellent” physical and mental health. (Colvin, 11/21)
The New York Times:
Trump Health Report Claims ‘Weight Reduction’ But Skimps On Specifics
In August, Mr. Trump reported to the Fulton County Jail, during an intake process for one of four criminal cases he is facing, that he weighed 215 pounds. That was nearly 30 pounds less than the White House doctor reported in 2020. But the report on Monday did not include even basic details such as Mr. Trump’s weight, his blood pressure, his cholesterol levels, any prescriptions or even how much weight he had lost. Dr. Aronwald instead wrote that Mr. Trump’s “physical exams were well within the normal range and his cognitive exams were exceptional.” (Cameron, 11/20)
Fox News:
Former Physician To Presidents And Rep. Ronny Jackson Expresses Concern For Biden To Stay As President
The former White House physician for Presidents Obama and Trump expressed concern Monday about President Biden's health and mental acuity as the president turns 81. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, said on "FOX & Friends" that the growing concerns, including from the left, are valid. "I've been saying for quite some time now, when he was candidate Joe Biden, that I didn't think that he had the cognitive ability to do the job," said Jackson. Additionally, Jackson emphasized that Biden has "degenerated" over the last three years. (Heckman, 11/20)
In news on the FDA —
Reuters:
FDA Warns Against Using Cardinal's Syringes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday warned healthcare providers and facilities not to use Cardinal Health's (CAH.N) Monoject syringes with patient-controlled pain management pumps and syringe pumps. The regulator's warning comes after Cardinal Health initiated a recall for its Monoject syringes due to incompatibility concerns with syringe pumps. (11/20)
Reuters:
US FDA To Delay Decision On Bristol Myers-2seventy Bio Cancer Therapy
The U.S. health regulator will not meet its Dec. 16 deadline to decide on the expanded use of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY.N) and partner 2seventy bio's (TSVT.O) blood cancer therapy in earlier lines of treatment as it plans to seek the advice of experts, the companies said on Monday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet confirmed when the advisory panel would meet, they added. (11/20)
Axios:
Drug Ads Must Be More Upfront About Side Effects, FDA Says
The Food and Drug Administration has finalized a long-running effort to require prescription drug ads on TV and radio to clearly lay out potential side effects and when a person should avoid a medicine. While the number of drug ads has surged and they account for billions of dollars in direct-to-consumer marketing, experts say they primarily rely on emotional appeals and focus on a drug's benefits over potential risks. (Bettelheim, 11/21)
Stat:
Delay Of Eye Drop Recall Highlights FDA Weakness
It took nearly three weeks for a maker of eye drops to recall its products after the Food and Drug Administration requested a recall. There have been no reports of injuries, but some key lawmakers are arguing the time it took the FDA to coax a voluntary recall shows the agency should be given the power to force them. (Wilkerson, 11/21)
On "forever chemicals" and worker protections —
Politico:
Supreme Court Rejects ‘Forever Chemicals’ Challenge
A major manufacturer of “forever chemicals” won't get its day before the Supreme Court. In a short order issued Monday, the justices declined to hear a plea from chemical giant DuPont that could undercut a $40 million jury verdict in favor of an Ohio resident who was diagnosed with testicular cancer after he was exposed to PFAS in drinking water. (Borst, 11/20)
Politico:
EPA To Boost Worker Protections For 2 Flame Retardants
EPA proposed stronger regulations on two ultratoxic flame retardants deemed to have "critical uses," though the agency stopped short of banning consumer or industrial uses. The proposed rules, announced Monday, would enact stronger worker protections and restrict water releases for two persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals: decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP 3:1). (Borst, 11/20)
Also —
Axios:
More Americans Could Get Dental Coverage Under Biden Proposal
Dental care could soon become more widely available to adults who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces under a new federal proposal that aims to narrow a long-standing coverage gap in the 2010 health care law. Healthy teeth and gums are tied to a person's overall health — for instance, gum disease is linked to cardiovascular issues and diabetes — but dental services are often treated differently than medical care. (Goldman, 11/21)
