Palin campaign likely lied when saying she'd reveal medical records John Byrne

Published: Monday November 3, 2008





Print This Email This With no indication that Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) presidential campaign will release Gov. Sarah Palin's medical records -- or even a single-page summary -- Palin's spokesmen appear to have lied when they said Palin would release details on her medical history.



Two weeks ago, Palin's campaign told several reporters on the trail that a summary of the Alaska governor's medical history would be made public before Election Day.



But there's no indication that even a single coversheet will be released, according to CNN.



"Reporters were told that details on Palin's medical background would be released early last week," CNN reports. "Last Thursday, after that timeframe had passed, a campaign aide backed off the previous pledge, saying the campaign wasnt sure when the information would be released."



By most accounts, Palin appears to be in good health. But some -- including conservative pundit Andrew Sullivan -- have raised questions about whether Palin's decision not to release any medical data has to do with the birth of her son, Trig, at 43. Sullivan has documented myriad inconsistencies in the governor's account of her son's birth.



After her water broke in her eighth month of pregnancy, while out of town to give a speech, Palin did not go to the hospital and instead called her doctor over the phone.



"I think that the majority of obstetricians, given a 44 year old with 4 previous deliveries and a known Down syndrome pregnancy at less than term with a question of ruptured membranes, would advise her to be seen at a hospital (especially if out-of-town and the question of traveling was on the table) to have these tests performed; given the malpractice risk, very few would be comfortable making the diagnosis over the phone," said one obstetrician Sullivan quotes.



McCain, Obama and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) have all offered some details about their medical history -- however limited. Obama provided a letter from his personal physician saying he was in good health; McCain offered select reporters a timed glimpse into his medical file, but has not made any part of his file public.



