Some Florida doctors would like Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's cancer history kept in the closet.
More than 90 Florida doctors signed an online petition to have McCain's complete and most recent medical records released, but another medical group, Florida Doctors for McCain-Palin, believes digging into his records would be a breech of his privacy.
"There is an issue today about voter confidence and the president's ability to perform his job," said Dr. Karl M. Altenburger, honorary state co-chair of Florida Doctors for McCain-Palin. "But as physicians, we value the privacy of our patients."
On May 23, a few reporters from The Associated Press were allowed to view the senator's medical files, including updates on his case of melanoma, a potentially deadly type of skin cancer.
The 1,173-page medical report, spanning eight years, showed that McCain has a strong heart and continues to receive monthly checkups for his treated melanoma.
Despite the release, some doctors think the records were incomplete.
The names from the online petition, which was posted on a Web site, "The Real McCain," appeared in a mid-September advertisement in The New York Times.
The ad contains more than 59,447 signatures, including 2,872 doctors nationwide and 90 Florida doctors.
Brave New Films, a campaign partnering with MoveOn.org and Democracy For America, paid for the ad.
"It's a little disingenuous," said Joshua Simmons, chairman of Gators for McCain.
"I don't think that the public should know about every single checkup. His current status has already been discussed, and Sen. McCain is in pretty good health," he said
McCain has had four cases of malignant melanoma since 1993. He was diagnosed and treated for Stage IIa melanoma during his first presidential campaign in 2000.
Ten years after being diagnosed, the survival rate for Stage IIa melanoma is about 65 percent, Altenburger said.
"In 15 years, his risk of having something else is much greater," he said. "But he's a pretty vigorous 72-year-old."
If elected, McCain would be the oldest president in American history. Former President Ronald Reagan, who currently holds the title, was elected in 1980 at the age of 69.
Beth Ann Rosenson, a UF political science professor, said there are valid concerns that McCain may not live through his first term, but any candidate's medical record is an issue during an election.
Rosenson said if someone is mentally capable of doing the job, then the question of age shouldn't be an issue.
"People should know about his health - I think that's fair game," Rosenson said. "There's a certain obligation you have to the people when you're in a public office."
