Washington is awash in rumors and speculation that former President Joseph R. Biden’s recent withdrawal from public life may be related to a cancer diagnosis that was concealed during his presidency, with both parties treating the sensitive matter differently. Here’s what you need to know about this developing situation:

The current speculation

Rumors circulating through political Washington:

The White House history

Previous administration’s health transparency questioned:

The partisan response

Political handling reflecting different calculations:

The historical context

Presidential health concealment has significant precedent:

The evidence assessment

Factual basis difficult to establish definitively:

The ethical questions

Health privacy versus public right to know:

The medical speculation

Specific health rumors raising technical questions:

What happens next

Several key developments are anticipated:

Read more:

• Washington awash in suspicion of Biden cancer cover-up

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The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.