Scalia's physician says his death likely linked to obesity, coronary artery disease


A letter from Antonin Scalia's physician states that "significant medical conditions," including obesity and diabetes, led to his sudden death on Feb. 13.
The 79-year-old conservative Supreme Court justice was found dead in his bed while on a hunting trip in Texas. Rear Adm. Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician for members of the Supreme Court and Congress, wrote the letter to the county judge that certified Scalia's death. In his letter, Monahan wrote that Scalia was a smoker, and suffered from coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease, high blood pressure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Presidio County District Attorney told The Associated Press the letter proved there was nothing suspicious about Scalia's death, and because of his health issues, no autopsy was necessary.
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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