Can doctors discuss a president's mental health? Why ethics and public risk collide

MedicalXpress | Apr 22, 2026

As the oldest person elected president of the United States, Donald Trump has long faced questions about his health. But is it appropriate for doctors to comment publicly on a president's mental health? In an opinion article published in The BMJ, David Nicholl and Trisha Greenhalgh examine the ethical tensions involved. While heads of state are entitled to medical confidentiality, their decisions can have far-reaching consequences, raising the question of whether professional norms against public commentary should ever be set aside.