John Fetterman, a rookie senator from Pennsylvania, admitted himself to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to get help for his severe depression for the second time this month.
Senate Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson said on Thursday that the Democratic senator had been suffering from clinical depression. According to Mr. Jentleson, on Monday, Congress’s attending physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, advised hospitalisation. Mr. Fetterman admitted himself to the suburban Maryland hospital Walter Reed on Wednesday.
According to Mr. Jentleson, Mr. Fetterman “is undergoing therapy on a voluntary basis.” The specialists at Walter Reed have assured us that John is receiving excellent treatment and will recover quickly.
According to Mr. Jentleson, Mr. Fetterman has battled depression on and off for the most of his adult life.
Senator’s wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman tweeted, “Given everything he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John.” “I’m very proud of him for reaching out for assistance and getting the attention he needs,” she gushed.
With the Democratic caucus’s advantage in the Senate is only 51-49, a protracted absence by Mr. Fetterman would provide difficulties for his party. Mr. Fetterman’s health issues have increased the likelihood that he will have to stand down at some time.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) told reporters that the Democratic caucus “is absolutely behind him” and that he hoped Mr. Fetterman would get the assistance he requires. Mr. Schumer was asked whether he was concerned that Mr. Fetterman wouldn’t be able to finish his term, and he said that he wasn’t.
Source: Time
Mr. Fetterman is currently on his second hospital visit this month. Mr. Fetterman was brought to a hospital in Washington, DC, after attending the State of the Union speech on the evening of February 7 and feeling disoriented the following day. After undergoing a battery of examinations, he was finally freed on Friday.
This week he returned to the Senate and cast votes to approve judicial candidates and take part in a hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday.
There has been worry about his health. During his campaign last year, the senator had a stroke; he subsequently had a pacemaker and defibrillator inserted. A clot had formed in his heart because of his atrial fibrillation, an abnormal and frequently fast heart rhythm that greatly increased his risk of stroke, heart failure, and other consequences.
According to his spokeswoman, medical examinations conducted at George Washington University Hospital last week revealed no signs of seizures.
Mr. Fetterman claims that his stroke last year impaired his ability to communicate but not his intelligence. Mr. Fetterman has relied on a video monitor with closed captioning of the dialogue for interviews and public appearances. Some of his statements became garbled in the only debate he had with Republican candidate Mehmet Oz last year.
He employs a closed captioning device in the Senate and refuses to answer questions from the press in the halls.
Mr. Fetterman’s victory in a seat formerly controlled by the GOP was crucial in ensuring the Democrats’ continued Senate majority. If he were to resign from the Senate, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro would pick his successor.
Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania is also absent due to health issues. The Democratic politician had prostate cancer surgery on Tuesday. His spokesperson said the operation was successful and that he plans to return to the Senate once he has healed.
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