House Democrats are planning to hold an event to scrutinize President Trump’s deteriorating mental health.
House Budget Committee Chairman and Rep. John Yarmuth said he and Rep. Jamie Raskin will host Dr. Bandy Lee, a psychiatrist from the Yale School of Medicine, who edited one of the best-selling books called “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President.”
Yarmuth told The Hill, “We are planning to do something where she can make a presentation to other members so that they’ll be aware of what she’s been working on.”
Yarmuth said the event, which was first reported by the Washington Examiner, would happen in July.
The Democrat said he thinks it is important that the Congress members and the public understand the position of Dr. Lee and the other psychologists in that book. The book argues that the president’s poor mental health poses a threat to the country.
The position is controversial, as none of the psychiatrists has treated the president, while the American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not allow members from speculating the mental health state of public figures.
Yarmuth said, “Even though none of them had actually treated Trump, they in their practices, and their experience, they recognize certain patterns of behavior, and when it’s their professional responsibility to alert people who may be endangered by someone’s behavior. And in this case, it’s the American people.”
Yarmuth said he does not equate that issue with Trump’s mental health. He said he wants Americans to be aware of the rising concerns.
In 2016, during the presidential election, the discussion of Trump’s mental state became widespread and the APA reminded members of the rule governing ethics in the profession. At that time, Maria Oquendo, who was then-APA president said, “The unique atmosphere of this year’s election cycle may lead some to want to psychoanalyze the candidates, but to do so would not only be unethical, it would be irresponsible.”
