Mitch McConnell’s health episodes draw attention to obscure, but influential Capitol Hill doctor

“In my case, it saved my life,” Rep. Dan Kildee, Democrat of Michigan, recalled. Kildee emphasised the phrase “saved.”

Kildee was sufficiently uncomfortable and anxious earlier this yr to name for an appointment at Congress’ Workplace of the Attending Doctor, a nondescript suite on the primary flooring of the Capitol.

“It allowed me to have one thing comparatively routine checked out,” Kildee informed CBS Information, fairly than ready to see his personal physician at residence, in Michigan. 

The suite is tucked behind an unremarkable entrance amid the marble and statues of the primary flooring of the Capitol. Docs and nurses present medical check-ups, consultations and emergency care to members of Congress and the justices of the Supreme Courtroom.    

Kildee was referred to specialists at George Washington College Hospital, the place he was identified and handled for throat most cancers.

After a grueling surgical procedure and restoration, Kildee is now cancer-free.  

However Kildee nonetheless wonders what may’ve occurred with out the care he obtained on the Capitol.  

Members of Congress are notoriously overbooked and overscheduled. With out the flexibility to see a physician conveniently and shortly on the Capitol, Kildee mentioned he and others would possibly delay looking for medical consultations.

The Workplace of Attending Doctor, which obtained a $4 million appropriation of taxpayer cash this yr, has almost 50 workers, responds to medical emergencies, takes appointments, doles out vaccines and is led by a presidential appointee. 

However since its founding in 1928, the workplace has existed in distinctive obscurity — till final month.

Brian Monahan, who has served as attending doctor since 2009, wrote a pair of medical updates this summer season on Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell, after McConnell had suffered two mysterious episodes throughout public remarks since July.  

Each instances, McConnell abruptly stopped talking and stared blankly for a number of seconds, whereas he was addressing cameras and reporters. A colleague intervened every time to test on McConnell’s effectively being and to provide him a second to get well and resume his information conferences. The incidents raised questions on McConnell’s well being, his restoration from a concussion in March and his means to proceed serving as a Senate chief. 

Responding to issues and questions on McConnell’s well being and talent to carry out his duties, the senator’s employees launched Monahan’s written medical summaries, which said that McConnell was not exhibiting indicators of struggling seizure problems, stroke or Parkinson’s illness. Monahan’s stories additionally mentioned the Workplace of Attending Doctor cleared McConnell to proceed working.

Monahan’s workplace did not return a number of requests from CBS Information for remark in regards to the workplace’s operations or its evaluation of McConnell’s well being. However a CBS Information evaluation of congressional information and interviews with a dozen members of Congress and staffers exhibits the attending doctor now has a uniquely broad number of tasks, starting from emergency medical care, to vaccinations, to meals service inspections, to journey screenings.

The workplace fees an annual charge for its companies. An inner company web site listed it at $646.32 in 2022.

The Congressional Analysis Service summarizes the function of the Workplace of Attending Doctor with a sweeping, although easy description: “The OAP is answerable for offering emergency medical help to Members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Courtroom, congressional employees, and the tens of millions of holiday makers to the Capitol annually.”

As is the case with so many parts and workplaces of Congress, the Attending Doctor hasn’t escaped the Capitol’s many political controversies and scrutiny.

“With out him, we’d simply by no means get issues checked out”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, refers to Monahan with the nickname “Doc.”

Blumenthal, who broke his leg in April throughout a parade in Connecticut, mentioned Monahan helped him get entry to a wheelchair and crutches to maneuver in regards to the Capitol throughout restoration. Blumenthal informed CBS Information, “Doc Monahan facilitated the healthcare. They are not orthopedists, however they had been conduits to the care.”

“Physician Monahan is nice to have conversations with,” mentioned Sen. Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland. mentioned Monahan is “nice to have conversations with,” and he is spoken with him “about among the challenges that we have had.”

The Workplace of Attending Doctor has suites and areas within the Capitol, the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing and in different Home and Senate workplace buildings. In a written report earlier this yr, Monahan mentioned his “employees are accessible 24 hours a day, 12 months per yr. In-person medical visits can be found to members every time the Home or Senate is in session and through enterprise hours when out of session.” The medical employees additionally provides journey assessments and consultations for congressional delegations making abroad journeys, in response to a number of staffers who spoke with CBS Information. 

Kildee mentioned the hectic journey schedule and the necessity to attend votes in particular person make it difficult to rearrange off-campus or hometown medical appointments. He informed CBS Information, “With out him, we’d simply by no means get issues checked out.” 

Kildee says Monahan recurrently follows as much as test on his well being post-surgery.  

“Since Dr. Monahan is an oncologist by coaching, he took a extra severe and energetic function in monitoring my case,” Kildee mentioned. 

Monahan, who obtained his medical diploma from Georgetown, additionally has a background and certification in oncology and continues to coach oncologists by means of his ongoing work on the Nationwide Most cancers Institute. Kildee mentioned that is useful to different members who expertise most cancers diagnoses and coverings whereas serving in Congress. Sen Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania, who underwent prostate most cancers surgical procedure earlier this yr, informed CBS Information he has additionally obtained medical steering and help from the Attending Doctor’s workplace.  

The employees consists of civilian and army personnel overseen by Monahan, who additionally holds the rank of U.S. Navy rear admiral.

In March, Monahan informed the Home Committee on Home Administration his group consists of an emergency doctor licensed in trauma companies. He mentioned his workplace additionally “supplies medical care for giant particular occasions, such because the State of the Union Handle and Presidential Inauguration, Joint Classes of Congress, massive scale ceremonies, Member retreats and conventions.”

Monahan informed the panel’s chairman, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, Republican of Georgia, his workplace additionally provides bodily remedy packages and is looking for to revive chiropractic companies too.  

“There’s lingering frustration from of us”

McConnell’s latest “freeze-up” incidents additional raised the profile of Monahan’s largely unknown workplace. Monahan’s written stories about McConnell’s well being, which McConnell’s employees publicly launched, have drawn criticism from McConnell’s colleague Sen. Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky.  

Monahan’s Sept. 5 letter to McConnell mentioned, “There is no such thing as a proof that you’ve got a seizure dysfunction or that you simply skilled a stroke, TIA or motion dysfunction reminiscent of Parkinson’s illness.”

In an Aug. 30 letter to McConnell, later launched by McConnell’s workplace, Monahan wrote, “Occasional lightheadedness shouldn’t be unusual in concussion restoration and can be anticipated because of dehydration.”

Paul, an ophthalmologist, questioned Monahan’s attribution of the episodes to doable dehydration. Chatting with reporters final week, Paul mentioned, “With my medical background, this isn’t dehydration. There’s one thing else occurring.” Paul added, “To me, it appears like a focal neurologic occasion. That does not imply it is incapacitating. It does not imply you may’t serve, but it surely signifies that any person must get up and say, ‘Wow, this appears like a seizure.'”

Monahan has additionally attracted some blended critiques from Republicans. Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, mentioned, “He’s completely looking for the well being and wellness of each member, however then referenced issues about Monahan’s dealing with of the COVID-19 pandemic and Capitol protocols.

The COVID mandates ordered by Home management in 2020 and 2021, then beneath Democratic management, brought about friction between the 2 events.

Monahan suggested congressional leaders about protocols to undertake to sluggish the unfold of coronavirus, in live performance with FDA pointers, he mentioned. However when Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered a masks mandate on the Home flooring, some Republicans bristled and famous that Senate Democratic leaders didn’t require masking within the Senate chamber. 

Monahan continued to face scrutiny over the COVID restrictions on the Capitol throughout the March listening to within the Home Committee on Administration.   

“There’s lingering frustration from of us,” Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil, Republican of Wisconsin, informed Monahan in reference to the completely different masking insurance policies within the Home and Senate. 

Monahan responded to a query from committee Republicans about these disparities by saying Home leaders — and their stricter guidelines — had been nearer to the popular CDC pointers. 

Paul additionally criticized Monahan for issuing steering that led to a requirement for COVID vaccinations for U.S. Senate pages. 

Many within the Home have inspired Monahan to develop the companies supplied by his workplace. Rep. Greg Murphy, Republican of North Carolina, additionally a working towards doctor, requested Monahan to think about establishing a Capitol Hill affected person room or space during which Home members who’re physicians can test and observe colleagues who need consultations. 

In March, Monahan informed Home members, “I like to verify our companies are aligned to what the wants are” and added, “I might prefer to have a higher give attention to ladies’s well being care.” 

In a report back to the Home earlier this yr, Monahan raised among the different lesser identified roles of his workplace. “Our employees conducts well being inspections of all meals service institutions,” his report mentioned. “We additionally work with the Capitol Police and the Architect to make sure people are compliant with environmental well being instructional and medical surveillance packages.”  

Rep. Norma Torres, Democrat of California, informed CBS Information the Home committee with oversight over the administration of Home operations, together with Monahan’s workplace, will proceed to evaluation the Attending Doctor Workplace’s efficiency. Torres mentioned that because the rating member of the Home Administration Oversight Subcommittee, she would “proceed to work with my colleagues to establish methods to offer the OAP the assets it wants to fulfill the challenges of tomorrow.”