参议院少数党领袖米奇·麦康奈尔(Mitch McConnell)的办公室周四发布了一份来自国会主治医生的声明，此前他在周三回答记者提问时似乎停顿了半分钟。
布莱恩·p·莫纳汉(Brian P. Monahan)医生表示，他与麦康奈尔进行了磋商，也与麦康奈尔的神经病学团队进行了交谈，并告知这位共和党领导人，他在医学上没有问题，可以继续他的计划。莫纳汉没有说他亲自检查了麦康奈尔。
莫纳汉说:“在评估了昨天的事件后，我已经通知领袖麦康奈尔，他的健康状况良好，可以继续按计划进行他的日程安排。”"在脑震荡恢复过程中，偶尔的头晕并不罕见，也可能是脱水的结果。"
“头晕”是麦康奈尔办公室在周三事件后不久提出的原因。
在几周内发生第二起类似事件后，医生声明的发布正值一些人呼吁透明之际。
麦康奈尔遭受脑震荡今年早些时候在华盛顿摔倒导致肋骨骨折。他住院治疗了几天，并在返回参议院之前接受了住院康复治疗。
2023年7月26日，参议院少数党领袖米奇·麦康奈尔在美国国会大厦与参议院共和党人共进午餐后，出席了新闻发布会。
德鲁·安格雷尔/盖蒂图片社
周三，麦康奈尔在家乡肯塔基州参加活动时，突然在领奖台上僵住了。
当这位共和党领导人被问及他是否会在2026年竞选连任时，他停止了讲话，盯着前方大约30秒。助手们随后找到他，其中一个告诉记者他们“需要一分钟”
这是数月来81岁的麦康奈尔第二次在摄像机前暂时失去反应。他的办公室将这一时刻归因于头晕目眩，在莫纳汉周四发表声明之前，几乎没有发表其他言论。
事件发生后，麦康奈尔的一名助手表示，这位参议员感觉良好，作为预防措施，他将在下次活动前咨询医生。
麦康奈尔周三继续参加共和党众议员吉姆·班克斯的筹款活动。班克斯贴了一张他和麦康奈尔的照片，声称他们就国家的未来进行了“广泛的讨论”。
尽管如此，这一事件引发了人们对麦康奈尔健康状况的质疑和担忧。医生告诉ABC新闻，任何经历类似症状的人都应该立即去看医生。
西弗吉尼亚大学洛克斐勒神经科学研究所(RNI)神经科运动障碍部主任安·默里博士说:“不能回答一个常见的问题，然后即使进一步提示也不知道，这是一个危险信号，需要进行彻底的医学评估，包括神经系统检查。”。
神经学家Leah Croll告诉美国广播公司新闻，她对这种情况的主要担忧是安全性和在危险情况下发生的可能性。
“比如说，我担心病人过马路。现在，这可能不是参议员麦康奈尔特别关心的问题，”克罗尔说。“但总的观点是，事件发生得越频繁，我就越担心严重的后果。”
乔·拜登总统表示，他周四与麦康奈尔进行了通话，他是“电话中的老样子”
拜登说:“我对与神经外科医生打交道有一点了解——我的工作人员中的主要女性之一，她的丈夫也是神经外科医生——当你遭受严重脑震荡时，米奇有时会有这样的反应，这一点也不奇怪。”“作为复苏的一部分。所以我相信他会恢复到原来的样子。”
当被美国广播公司新闻问及是否对麦康奈尔在参议院履行职责的能力有任何担忧时，拜登回应说:“不，我没有。”
McConnell medically cleared by Capitol physician after apparent freeze episode
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's office on Thursday released a statement from the Capitol attending physician after an alarming episode Wednesday when he appeared to freeze for half a minute while answering reporter questions.
Dr. Brian P. Monahan said he consulted with McConnell and has also spoken with McConnell's neurology team, and informed the Republican leader that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule. Monahan did not say he examined McConnell himself.
"After evaluating yesterday's incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned," Monahan said. "Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration."
"Lightheadedness" is what McConnell's office suggested was the cause shortly after Wednesday's episode.
The release of the physician's statement comes amid some calls for transparency after the second such incident in a matter of weeks.
McConnellsuffered a concussionand a fractured rib after a fall earlier this year in Washington. He was hospitalized for several days and underwent inpatient rehabilitation before returning to the Senate.
On Wednesday, McConnell was at an event in his home state of Kentucky when he suddenly froze at the podium.
The Republican leader been asked about whether he would run for another term in 2026 when he stopped speaking and stared ahead for roughly 30 seconds. Aides then approached him, with one telling reporters they "needed a minute."
It was the second time in as many months that the 81-year-old McConnell became temporarily unresponsive in front of the cameras. His office attributed the moments to lightheadedness and had said little else until Thursday's statement from Monahan.
After the incident, an aide for McConnell said the senator felt fine and would consult a physician before his next event as a precaution.
McConnell on Wednesday went on to participate in a fundraiser with Republican Rep. Jim Banks. Banks posted a photograph of him and McConnell, stating they had a "wide-ranging discussion" about the country's future.
Still, the episode raised questions and concerns about McConnell's health. Doctors told ABC News that anyone who experiences similar symptoms should see a doctor immediately.
"Being unable to answer a common question and then not being aware even upon further prompting, is a red flag to warrant a thorough medical evaluation, including a neurologic work up," said Dr. Ann Murray, who is the Movement Disorders division chief in the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) Department of Neurology at West Virginia University.
Neurologist Leah Croll told ABC News her main concern when it came to such episodes is safety and the potential for them to occur during a dangerous circumstance.
"For example, I worry about patients, say, crossing the street. Now, that may not be a concern specifically for Senator McConnell," Croll said. "But the general idea is that the more frequently events are happening, the more I worry about serious consequences."
President Joe Biden said he spoke to McConnell Thursday and that he was his "old self on the telephone."
"Having a little understanding of dealing with neurosurgeons -- one of the leading women on my staff, her husband's a neurosurgeon as well -- It's not at all unusual to have a response that sometimes happens to Mitch when you've had a severe concussion," Biden said. "As part of its part of the recovery. And so I'm confident he's going to be back to his old self."
When asked by ABC News if he had any concern about McConnell's ability to fulfill his responsibilities in the Senate, Biden responded: "No, I don't."
