A prominent vascular surgeon has accused Mitch McConnell's staff of subjecting the veteran senator to 'elder abuse' by portraying his return to the Senate as imminent despite his physicians saying he has not yet been medically cleared to leave rehabilitation. Dr Anahita Dua argues the public messaging surrounding the 84-year-old Republican's recovery risks creating unrealistic expectations that conflict with the realities of frailty rehabilitation.
The criticism follows statements from McConnell's office saying the former Senate Republican leader is working towards returning to Washington 'soon', even as the Office of the Attending Physician confirmed he remains in a rehabilitation facility and has not yet been cleared to resume his Senate duties. Dua says that disconnect raises concerns that political messaging is moving ahead of medical reality.
