Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, released a one-page letter from his doctor saying he is “recovering well” from the stroke he suffered before the May primary.
The report says that Fetterman’s health is improving, though he still has some auditory processing issues. His stroke has been a point of contention in his campaign against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, as Oz and others question his ability to perform the duties of a senator.
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“Overall the Lt. Governor is recovering well from his stroke and his health has continued to improve,” his primary care physician wrote, adding, “He spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits. His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty. … His hearing of sound such as music is not affected.”
The doctor also noted that Fetterman is able to walk 4 to 5 miles “regularly without difficulty” and concluded, “Overall, Lt. Governor Fetterman is well and shows strong commitment to maintaining good fitness and health practices. He has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office.”
NEW: Fetterman releases updated medical report from his doctor on his stroke recovery. Letter says he “is recovering well” and “his health has continued to improve”
Adds “his communication is significantly improved compared to his first visit” pic.twitter.com/9nb295KI0y
— Ursula Perano (@UrsulaPerano) October 19, 2022
Fetterman’s stroke has been used as campaign fodder in a race in which the candidates have traded insults. Fetterman’s camp made fun of Oz calling a vegetable tray “crudites” in a campaign video trying to relate to price hikes for the average consumer, to which an Oz spokeswoman charged that “if John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life,” then “maybe” he would not have suffered a stroke.
“The only issues lingering from the stroke is just having some auditorial processing every now and then,” Fetterman told a local news station in August. “And I’ll miss a word sometimes, or I might mush two words together sometimes in a conversation. But that’s really the only issue, and it’s getting better and better.”
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The Democrat did an interview with NBC News earlier this month in which he stumbled in answering questions several times, and his campaign has demanded closed captioning devices if he is to participate in a debate with Oz.
Fetterman and Oz are locked in a tight race, and control of the Senate could come down to one seat in the midterm elections.
