Part 3/7:
When pressed with the straightforward question—"Were you ever told to lie about the president's health?"—O'Connor did not provide a clear yes or no. Instead, he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, a tactic that immediately sparked debate about whether he was shielding something or merely upholding his professional and legal obligations.
Interpretations and Public Perception
Critics argued that silence in such circumstances could be interpreted as guilt or guilt-adjacent behavior, potentially hinting at some form of cover-up. Conversely, O'Connor's defenders insisted that he was simply respecting doctor-patient confidentiality and following legal advice, which is a cornerstone of medical ethics.