[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.