U.S.BBN USA

U.S. doctors are aging, raising concerns about patient safety

Proposals to assess older physicians through cognitive screening have faced legal challenges and fierce professional resistance from doctors who oppose the testing measures.

On air: Chip Darnell and Dr. Nina Byte on Wake Up, America
Published 5:24 AM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

At a glance

First reported by The Washington Post: “U.S. doctors are aging, raising concerns about patient safety”, with reporting from CBS News.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 5:24 AM ET on Wake Up, America, by Chip Darnell and Dr. Nina Byte.
Topics: Iran, US.
BBN covered this story before: Trump and Iran both say US Midterm Elections not a factor in peace… (October 11).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The Washington PostU.S. doctors are aging, raising concerns about patient safety
CBS NewsIran calls U.S. response "insufficient" amid stalled talks to end the war

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA big question in American medicine this morning: the country's doctors are getting older, and The Washington Post says plans to check how sharp they are have run into fierce resistance.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentLegal challenges, professional pushback, and a loud argument about whether a memory screening even works. So the doctors are fighting the quiz.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBut look at the bright side!
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA doctor with thirty years of experience has seen everything, and probably forgotten half of it, which is a very relaxing thought!
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentForgotten half of it.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHalf of the scary half! I'm a glass-three-quarters-full guy, and honestly, a doctor who's forgotten half of medicine might still remember the important half.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe resistance is the part that bothers me. If you won't take a ten-minute test, I start to wonder what's on it.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMaybe they're just busy! Every one of them has a waiting room full of people who've been sitting there since breakfast.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSo the waiting room is the real screening. Everyone's tested on patience, and the magazines are from two thousand nine.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd nobody has ever failed it, because nobody is allowed to leave. Five stars!
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentYour doctor should be sharp, and you should be allowed to ask. That's the whole debate, and it somehow takes years.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorYears! By the time they vote on the test, they'll have to remember what they were voting on.