Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Wednesday after dealing with worsening levels of clinical depression in recent weeks.
“On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the attending Physician of the United States Congress,” read a statement released by Fetterman’s representatives Wednesday.
“Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed, and John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.”
Tough stuff, but admirable to be open about it.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) checked himself into Walter Reed hospital last night for treatment for clinical depression.
Statement just out from his office. pic.twitter.com/QskGeKYZI7
— Niall Stanage (@NiallStanage) February 16, 2023
The latest hospital visit for the Senator comes just one week after the New York Times reported Fetterman was unable to decipher sentences from colleagues, describing his auditory struggles as “trying to make out the muffled voice of the teacher in the Peanut’s cartoon.”
Wednesday’s visit marks the second hospitalization for Fetterman in just over a week.
NPR reported:
One night after attending the State of the Union address with other members of Congress, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., spent last night in the hospital. His office says Fetterman reported feeling lightheaded on Wednesday and was kept overnight for observation.
The senator is in good spirits and has been talking with his staff and family, his office said.
Fetterman was at a Senate Democratic retreat when he started feeling unwell, his communications director, Joe Calvello, said in a statement to journalists. That retreat was reportedly held at the Library of Congress.
“He left and called his staff, who picked him up and drove him to the George Washington University Hospital,” Calvello said.
“A few minutes ago, Senator John Fetterman was discharged from the George Washington University Hospital,” a statement from Fetterman’s camp stated last week.
“In addition to the CT, CTA, and MRI tests ruling out a stroke, his EEG test results came back normal, and there was no evidence of seizures.”
Fetterman has consistently struggled with health issues since a stroke in May temporarily derailed his campaign and left him with a myriad of medical problems.