And he wants to tell you how to live your life. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate Democrat nominee John Fetterman on Friday issued an extraordinary statement by his heart doctor accompanying one by himself acknowledging he blew off his doctor’s advice five years ago about his ailing heart and ‘almost died’ from a stroke last month. Fetterman, 52, had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and in 2017. He was hospitalized for the stroke, requiring surgeries to remove a clot from his brain and to implant a pacemaker. The pacemaker implant raised questions about Fetterman’s true condition, leading to today’s disclosure of a previously unannounced diagnosis of cardiomyopathy.
Fetterman and his wife Gisele posted a video from the hospital on May 15.
Letter from Fetterman’s cardiologist Ramesh Chandra. Key quote, “I had prescribed medications along with improved diet and exercise and asked him to follow up again in the following months. Instead, I did not see him again until yesterday. John did not go to any doctor for 5 years and did not continue taking his medications…he also has a condition called cardiomyopathy, which is why doctors in Lancaster chose to implant the device.”
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Fetterman statement and key quote, “As my doctor said, I should have taken my health more seriously. The stroke I suffered on May 13 didn’t come out of nowhere. Like so many others, and so many men in particular, I avoided going to the doctor, even though I knew I didn’t feel well. As a result, I almost died. I want to encourage others to not make the same mistake.”
Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor, critiqued the doctor’s statement, “Not a great letter. First of all it’s not from the docs who treated Fetterman last month. It’s from someone who saw him in 2017 & not again until yesterday who basically says “Don’t blame me”. Doesn’t describe residual neuro deficit or why ICD was implanted during that admission.”
Fetterman still does not have a Republican opponent. GOP candidates Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick are in a mandatory recount with the Trump-endorsed Dr. Oz maintaining a lead of around 900 votes. McCormick has sued to allow the counting of undated mail-in ballots. A judge ruled in McCormick’s favor Thursday night.