Pentagon releases summary of Austin hospital review

Staffers for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have been restricted in a quantity of methods whereas he was hospitalized final month as the general public, the press and the White House have been unaware of what was taking place for a number of days however that there was no sick intent, in keeping with the findings of a 30-day review of the communication breakdown that was launched Monday.

An inside review of the switch of authority throughout Austin’s hospitalization discovered that issues about medical privateness and a quickly fluid state of affairs contributed to why Austin’s hospitalization was stored secret, the summary mentioned. 

Austin was hospitalized on the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Jan. 1 for an an infection associated to a bladder situation that stemmed from prostate most cancers surgical procedure carried out in December. The Pentagon has been closely criticized for ready to tell the White House, Congress and the general public in regards to the episode. 

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized in January, however the keep was stored secret for a number of days.  (Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura)

Despite the delay, President Biden has stood by Austin. 

During his hospital keep, Austin transferred his duites to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who was on depart in Puerto Rico, on Jan. 2, the day after he was admitted. However, neither she nor the White House knew he had been hospitalized till two days later. Congress and the general public weren’t knowledgeable till Jan. 5.

A 3-page summary of the review’s findings mentioned there was no “indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate.” However, Austin’s employees was “significantly” restricted in 3 ways.

“Medical privacy laws prohibited medical providers from candid sharing of medical information with the Secretary’s staff. Second, for privacy reasons, his staff were hesitant to pry or share any information that they did learn,” the summary states. “Third, the Secretary’s medical situation remained in flux and as long as he remained in the Critical Care Unit, timely secured communications could not be assured.”

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After returning to work, Austin took the blame for the communication breakdown, saying he was answerable for selections to not disclose his well being standing. 

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“We did not handle this right, and I did not handle this right,” he mentioned in a information convention on the time. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”