    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 5, 1991]
    [Pages 474-475]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the President's Health
    May 5, 1991

        President Bush's diagnosis today remains essentially the same as
    last night. He continues to take digoxin and procainamide for the atrial
    fibrillation. While there have been some indications of a positive
    response to the medicine, the President's heartbeat has not returned to
    its normal rhythm. The President is wearing a heart monitor and the
    doctors continue to watch his progress.
        In order to allow continued observation of the President, he will
    remain overnight at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Mrs. Bush has returned to
    the White House. The President has spent a relatively active day at the
    hospital, conferring with Governor Sununu, General Scowcroft, his
    doctors, Mrs. Bush, and other friends that he has called. He visited
    with his son Marvin and his daughter, Dorothy, at the hospital, as well
    as his grandchildren Sam and Ellie LeBlond.
        The President's medical team met for nearly 2 hours this evening,
    from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., to discuss the latest test data. They report that
    the President is in fine condition, good spirits, and showing some
    response to the medicine. They will review the President's progress
    again tomorrow morning, perhaps as early as 5 a.m. or 6 a.m.
        The doctors report that atrial fibrillation can last for varying
    periods of time, sometimes only a few hours, sometimes longer. It is a
    condition that must be continually analyzed, but can be treated in a
    number of ways. Because the President is now entering his second day
    with this heart irregularity, there has been considerable speculation
    about courses of medical treatment. We want to assure the American
    people that the President is in a healthy condition. He has not suffered
    a heart attack. He has not suffered heart muscle damage.
        We remain hopeful that the medication will return his heart to
    normal rhythm. If by morning that is not the case, the doctors will
    consider electricalcardioversion. This procedure is well-known and
    relatively commonplace. The risk is minimal, particularly in a patient
    such as the President who has no demonstrable heart disease.
    Nevertheless, it would require general anesthesia, which would be
    expected to incapacitate the President for only a short period of time.
    The final decision on this will be made tomorrow morning. During the
    short time that the President would be under anesthesia, the Vice
    President would be Acting President under the 25th amendment.
        Once again, I want to emphasize that we hope that the President will
    respond to his medicine in a way that returns his heartbeat to normal
    and no further treatment will be needed. The doctors will make that
    evaluation early tomorrow morning.

    [[Page 475]]

                        Note: The Press Secretary read the statement to
                            reporters at 9:02 p.m. in the Briefing Room at
                            the White House. John H. Sununu was Chief of
                            Staff to the President, and Brent Scowcroft was
                            Assistant to the President for National Security
                            Affairs.