by Dorothy Skinner

Created on: June 11, 2008

Perhaps the question should be why shouldn't they?
As a UK citizen I observe the Presidential elections with a great deal of interest. After all, the results will affect us all as global citizens, and indeed whatever the rules for the United States Presidential candidates, they should also apply to any other country that holds elections.
I believe it is essential that candidates should disclose the state of their health because they might be suffering from a condition that would have a direct bearing on whether they can function effectively at high level. This would not necessarily mean that every person in the world knows about every head cold or blemish about them. It should be possible to submit their health records for audit and clearance as a healthy candidate without those records becoming public knowledge.

The job of President is one of the greatest and most responsible positions in the world, and the candidates should have the same legal and moral obligation to submit the status of their health to scrutiny in the same way that any other working person at whatever level must do. There is a hierarchal scale of legislation in any government to examine personnel records for accuracy and credibility, and this should be used to determine the health risks of a candidate Employees do not have access to a colleague's medical records, and there is no reason why high level employees of the nation should either. Even people who work as volunteers have to be declared fit for purpose, so why should a presidential candidate have special privileges?

Health problems may not be such a concern if they are something that can be managed. Many people work in important positions with conditions such as diabetes or with artificial limbs. Even mental health problems can be controlled effectively so that the sufferer can work.
However, imagine a scenario where a candidate elected to President has not declared a health problem that later, when he is in office, affects his ability to remain functional. Imagine a President with an undeclared cancer, who needs chemotherapy to contain the disease. It is difficult enough to have to deal with such an illness let alone remain alert and in control while undertaking treatment. Worse still, imagine a President who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not required to declare it. Imagine the holocaust that could result from such an emission.

Everyone deserves a private life but when someone puts himself in the public eye to attain the highest

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