Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital that it was “very unusual” for someone who had been admitted for severe depression to perform their job. He added that mental illness and physical illness aren’t the same in terms of the level of impairment, and that Fetterman’s ability to bring bills forward could be complicated by his diagnosis.
The doctor also noted that the public does not know the severity of Fetterman’s depression or how he has responded to treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Feb. 16.
Fetterman’s spokesman, Joe Calvello, did not respond to a request for comment. However, he did say on Monday that the senator was “doing well” but would remain hospitalized for the next few weeks. Calvello added that Fetterman’s recovery would be a weeks-long process, and that updates would be provided as it progressed.
Fetterman suffered a stroke in May 2022 during his run for office against Republican candidate Mehmet Oz. Despite questions about his mental fitness and cognitive processing ability, he pushed through to win the election. Fetterman’s wife, Gisele Fetterman, defended him against criticism from an NBC reporter who drew attention to the senator’s slowness of speech and difficulty responding to questions.
Fetterman was also hospitalized for two days starting on Feb. 8 after feeling lightheaded during a Democratic Party retreat. A week later, he was hospitalized for depression. If issues persist, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) could replace Fetterman via a special election in 2024 to finish out the senator’s six-year term.
Siegel suggested that Fetterman may have already responded to treatment and that doctors may be “just keeping an eye on him for a few days.” However, he also noted that mental illness is an impairment of mood and judgment, making it highly unlikely that someone could perform their job while hospitalized for severe depression.
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