President Trump reportedly demanded that the doctors who treat him at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sign a nondisclosure agreement last year.
The president made the requirement of both physicians and non-medical personnel during a surprise visit to Walter Reed on Nov. 16, 2019, according to a Thursday report from NBC News. Two unnamed sources “familiar with the process” said at least two physicians who opted not to sign the NDA were not permitted to be involved in caring for the president.
The president’s visit to Walter Reed nearly a year ago created speculation that Trump had a medical emergency, but the president’s physician released a statement that said the visit was a part “of the regular, primary preventative care he receives throughout the year,” and it was reported ahead of time due to “scheduling uncertainties.”
It’s unclear why the president would make such a demand given Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act laws, known as HIPAA, prevent medical professionals from disclosing a patient’s information.
“Any physician caring for the President is bound by patient physician confidentiality guaranteed under HIPAA, and I’m not going to comment on internal procedures beyond that,” White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.
Trump stayed three nights at Walter Reed, located in Bethesda, Maryland, over the weekend after testing positive for COVID-19 and returned to the White House on Monday evening. The White House physician, Sean Conley, said Trump has quickly improved but also has declined to answer specific questions about the president’s condition.
