Psych screening should be required for presidential candidates

I believe there is a very real risk that in November, this country could end up putting a man in the office of president who is mentally ill, and that person is Donald Trump.

I do not mean this as a partisan political comment. Commentators from both parties have frequently noted his extreme narcissistic behavior and total lack of human empathy. He fits every profile I have ever seen of a sociopath.

That being said, I fully admit that I am completely unqualified to make such a judgment. What bothers me is that no qualified psychological professional is required to make a psychological evaluation of either candidate.

In the military, every single person who has direct responsibility for launching nuclear weapons is required to undergo a rigorous physical and psychological screening. However, the person who gives them the launch order will never have been given even the most rudimentary evaluation. We should seriously consider making physical and mental evaluations by an independent medical panel a requirement for running for president!

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Psych screening should be required for presidential candidates."