MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Yesterday some of the highly effective males in Washington was briefly and actually speechless. Whereas taking questions from reporters, Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell froze in place, gripping the lectern, silent for about 30 seconds. An aide tried to assist.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Did you hear the query, senator – operating for reelection in 2026?

MITCH MCCONNELL: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: All proper. I am sorry, you all. We’ll want a minute. Senator…

KELLY: McConnell ultimately appeared to get better. He took two extra questions. His spokesperson later stated he was momentarily lightheaded. However the same episode occurred final month. So we’ve got known as Dr. Ann Murray. She is motion problems division chief on the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute at West Virginia College. Dr. Murray, welcome.

ANN MURRAY: Thanks a lot for having me, Mary Louise.

KELLY: Understanding that you haven’t examined Senator McConnell – so with out asking you to make any type of prognosis, simply briefly tick by way of what is the vary of issues that could be occurring right here.

MURRAY: Yeah, I believe it is at all times necessary to not simply emphasize one episode or one occasion in someone’s life but additionally to place it in context. And I believe to me, that was probably the most alarming piece – that placing this in context of different latest occasions the place clearly Senator McConnell wasn’t feeling like himself is probably the most regarding factor. And it does elevate vital concern for an underlying medical downside and probably even an underlying neurologic downside.

KELLY: I imply, the – once more, not wishing to enterprise in any means in the direction of hypothesis, however I’ve seen individuals saying this could possibly be something from dehydration to a partial seizure, some type of stroke. Are all of these issues on the desk for those who had been, you understand, to be analyzing him as a affected person in your apply?

MURRAY: Completely. , I believe you are spot on in that we should always by no means speculate about somebodys medical situation having not carried out a radical historical past, an examination. However it’s regarding. And, you understand, I believe that my emphasis could be that anybody experiencing comparable signs ought to completely search medical care and have a part of that medical care be, you understand, with potential specialists if wanted.

KELLY: McConnell is 81 years previous. He missed almost six weeks of labor this previous spring after a fall that induced a damaged rib and a concussion. That concussion – is there any method to know if that is an element right here?

MURRAY: Completely. I imply, assembly, once more, clinically analyzing him, you possibly can weigh that in. It is necessary to know that concussion may cause people that undergo from them to have foggy-headedness and slower thought. However furthermore, in my thoughts, I typically train my college students that it is also placing the entire image in context and saying, is there one thing underlying that is inflicting the autumn to start with that led to the concussion? And the way will we join all of these dots? However saying that concussion can play a task – completely.

KELLY: I need to notice that Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending doctor on the U.S. Congress, stated at the moment he has consulted with Senator McConnell, additionally together with his neurology staff. He is cleared the senator to proceed together with his schedule as deliberate. Dr. Murray, does something you may have seen reviewing movies of those incidents – something you have seen elevate questions in your thoughts about Senator McConnell’s potential to do his job?

MURRAY: No, by no means, Mary Louise. I imply, I believe, once more, it is actually onerous to make a snap judgment off of an episode. The factor that I might need to emphasize is to say that whether or not someone has a medical downside, even a neurologic downside, does not really imply they’re – could be at concern of not with the ability to do their job. To me, it is not nearly, can he do his job? , if he’s cleared by medical specialists to do his job, nice. It is extra about, is he wholesome? Is he properly? Is he functioning as finest as he presumably can? And that basically is the emphasis of claiming that he wants to hunt out no matter medical care he wants and get the appropriate prognosis and – in order that finally he can he can really have the very best quality of life doable after which, with that, perform at his highest capability. Clearly he is a high-functioning particular person. And at no level does any medical downside actually immediately put that in jeopardy, particularly if accurately identified and managed.

KELLY: Dr. Ann Murray is a professor of neurology at West Virginia College. Dr. Murray, thanks on your time.

MURRAY: Thanks a lot, Mary Louise. It was great.

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