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AMEND SUPPORTS DNA TESTING OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN

PRESS STATEMENT 4 MAY 2009

Patient group, the Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders (AMEND), which provides information and worldwide support to patients with the rare genetic multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) disorders, including those in the USA, backs the efforts of cardiologist Dr John Sotos to genetically test the DNA of assassinated US President, Abraham Lincoln for one of the rarest forms of the disorder.

In Dr Sotos’ book, The Physical Lincoln, he theorizes that President Abraham Lincoln had MEN type 2b.  MEN2b causes an aggressive form of cancer affecting the thyroid gland in the neck (medullary thyroid carcinoma), and often other tumours involving the adrenal glands (pheochromocytoma) and the bowel (ganglioneuromas).  MEN2b sufferers also have distinctive facial abnormalities, may be taller than average, and have long limbs and fingers (Marfan-like appearance).  Dr Sotos believes that, had he not been assassinated, Lincoln would have died from medullary thyroid cancer or pheochromocytoma within a year.

AMEND commented that Dr Sotos’ theory is of great public interest, particularly to those who suffer with the disorder.  President Lincoln is widely accepted to be one of the most inspirational leaders of all time.  Should it be proved that he did indeed suffer from MEN2b, he would continue to be of enormous inspiration, not just to the general public, but also in a more specific way to current MEN2b patients who are living and battling with their disease, and to those with other rare disorders.

Ria Cooke, mother of the late MEN2b sufferer Laura Hilton said, “Laura died in 2007 aged just 22.  She was not diagnosed until she was 16 and by age 20, it was too late for even expert surgery to save her.  Raising awareness of this disease could prevent this from happening to others in the future; something that, just before she died, Laura told me she was passionate about ensuring would happen one day.”

AMEND stressed that Eric Schmincke, the president of the board of Directors of the G.A.R. Civil War Museum in Philadelphia was right to consider moral and ethical issues surrounding genetic testing: this is something that people with genetic disorders do all the time.  However, Schmincke’s comment regarding the fact that Lincoln is not here to “defend himself” is wrong.  The possibility (or fact) that someone may have a genetic disease is not something that patients should have to defend; rather it is something that sufferers must learn to live and, sadly often, die with.  And is there not a moral issue to address regarding helping today’s patients by advancing scientific knowledge about a disease?  If Lincoln had a new (and possibly as yet unknown) genetic mutation causing MEN2b, what better way to do this?  If indeed he was alive today, wouldn’t he have wanted to help in any way possible?

Lincoln was referred by William Herndon to be of the opinion; “Tell the truth and don’t varnish me.”