Leaving to others a consideration of the two men’s comparatively different governing styles as well as their levels of apparent faith in scientific facts, their illnesses, just 21 months apart, provide an excellent opportunity to compare the available medical options as well as the frustrations presented by a new disease in its first months to a much better-studied disease well into its third year.
There are three main differences between these two presidents’ experiences with the disease.
However, though the odds for a good outcome are heavily in Biden’s favor, the sad truth about prediction models is that they are wonderful for anticipating how large groups of people will fare but can only deliver a “likelihood” to the individual patient.
And, as we have learned throughout the pandemic, a likelihood, though reassuring, is not the same as a promise. As a doctor, I always tell patients that I am hoping they have the most boring disease course possible. This, too, is my wish for Biden: Mr. President, here is hoping for a super boring next few days.