Does the public’s right to know trump a politician’s right to medical privacy?

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) checked himself into Walter Reed Medical Center for treatment of depression.

Julian Zelizer: Does the public’s right to know trump a politician’t right to medical privacy? We have come a long way as a society in appreciating the impact of brain disorders, he says.

Zelizer says increasing age is an established risk factor for frailty associated with fall risks, concussions, weakness.

It is in the national interest to have a clear-eyed policy debate that includes the risks as well as the benefits of using modern science to provide insights into the brains and minds of those we elect, or plan to elect, to high public office.

Science has an important role to play in informing the public debate and fighting stigma and prejudice.