Doctors announced Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent non-surgical treatment after being hospitalized over the weekend with symptoms suggestive of an emergency bladder problem.
Austin was taken to Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Maryland on Sunday.
“Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent a non-surgical procedure under general anesthesia to address a bladder issue. We expect a smooth recovery and will monitor him closely overnight. “We intend to do so,” said a statement from Dr. John Maddox, director of trauma medicine at Walter Reed. , and Dr. Gregory Chesnutt, director of the Prostate Disease Research Center at Martha Cancer Center.
White House establishes Cabinet notification guidelines following Austin hospitalization controversy
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized, nearly two weeks after he was hospitalized due to complications from prostate cancer surgery, Pentagon officials confirmed Saturday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Doctors said, “Long-term hospitalization is not expected.” “The Secretary anticipates being able to return to normal duties starting tomorrow. The current bladder issue is not expected to change his expected full recovery.”
Mr. Austin is scheduled to resume his duties on Tuesday. He had previously transferred his duties and duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.
of Secretary of Defense A trip scheduled for this week to Brussels for meetings on Ukraine and NATO has been canceled and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will meet virtually on Wednesday, the ministry announced on Monday.
In December, Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital and underwent surgery for prostate cancer. A week later she developed an infection and she was readmitted to the hospital. Ms. Hicks was on a pre-scheduled vacation, so she took on the task.
On Monday, Maddox and Chesnutt said Austin’s “prognosis for cancer remains favorable.”
March 27, 2008, Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dalapak, File)
The secretary was heavily criticized in January after he was hospitalized with cancer in January. Mr. Austin was hospitalized, but the Pentagon did not notify President Biden, Congress or the press until days later.
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Mr. Austin said he apologized directly to Mr. Biden for not informing him of his hospitalization in advance.
“Let me be clear: We didn’t take care of this right, and I didn’t take care of this right,” Austin said at a Feb. 1 press conference about being hospitalized for prostate cancer treatment. he said. “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have told my team and the American people. I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and the American people.”
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
