Calif. Sen. Feinstein briefly hospitalized after a fall at home
Sen. Dianne Feinstein was briefly hospitalized Tuesday after she suffered what her office characterized as a “minor fall” at her home in San Francisco, the latest in a series of health issues for the longtime lawmaker.
The California Democrat, who turned 90 in June, “went to the hospital yesterday afternoon as a precaution after a minor fall in her home,” her office said in a statement Wednesday morning. “All of her scans were clear and she returned home.”
No further details were provided. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) confirmed to the Daily News that he had spoken with his colleague. “I spoke with Sen. Feinstein this morning,” his statement Wednesday afternoon read. “She said she suffered no injuries and briefly went to the hospital as a precaution. I’m glad she is back home now and is doing well.”
Her fall this week is far from the first time Feinstein, the oldest serving member of the Senate, has faced health issues this year. In March, she revealed she was diagnosed with shingles and hospitalized as a result. The viral infection, which is not life-threatening, causes a painful rash, that can occur anywhere on the body.
During her recovery, she contracted encephalitis — or an inflammation of the brain that can trigger facial paralysis — which “resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital,” according to her spokesman Adam Russell. She also suffered from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a complication that occurs when the shingles virus reaches a facial nerve near the ears.
It can result in hearing loss. Feinstein was missing from the Senate floor for nearly three months before she made her return in May. In the weeks since, many have expressed concern for the lawmaker, who has been using a wheelchair to make her way through the halls of the Capitol. Her face at times has appeared partially paralyzed, and she has also on occasion appeared to be confused and disoriented.
During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing at the end of July, Feinstein required some prodding from Chairwoman Patty Murray, a Washington state Democrat. When it came time for California to vote, Feinstein began to read prepared remarks before an aide stopped her and Murray told her “just say ‘aye.’ “
She has since defended her ability to carry out her Senate duties. Feinstein, who first took office in 1992, previously announced she would not seek reelection in 2024.
Several Democrats have already entered the race to replace her.