Austin's doctors, John Maddox and Gregory Chesnutt, said in a statement that Austin developed bladder issues “related to prostate cancer surgery in December 2023” and returned to the hospital on Sunday. He said his condition at the time “demonstrates the need for close monitoring by the authorities.” Critical care team and supportive care. ”
Doctors said Austin's bladder problems were unrelated to the cancer itself and “do not affect his favorable cancer prognosis.” They expect a full recovery.
Mr. Austin was admitted to the hospital around 2:20 p.m. Sunday and handed over his duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks several hours later. The next day, he was placed under general anesthesia for related procedures, Pentagon officials said.
Austin's health and response have come under scrutiny after he withheld his cancer diagnosis from President Biden and other senior officials for several weeks, even after undergoing surgery on December 22nd. There is. He was taken by ambulance again to Walter Reed Hospital on January 1st after experiencing painful complications, including urinary tract and bladder infections, but he did not share that information with the White House until January 4th. was not announced.
Austin was hospitalized for two weeks, but was discharged on January 15th.
The Defense Secretary later apologized for the secrecy, saying the cancer diagnosis was a “gut punch” and that given his public role he should have handled it better.
The Pentagon Office of the Inspector General has launched an independent investigation into the matter, and Austin's staff recently completed its own 30-day investigation into how his hospitalization was handled. The results of that investigation have not yet been made public.
It's unclear when Austin will return to the Pentagon. He is scheduled to meet virtually Wednesday morning with defense ministers from dozens of countries that support Ukraine's efforts to remove invading Russian forces. He is scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee on February 29, whose members have criticized his handling of the health crisis.
David Yee, chief of urology and genitourinary medicine at Sutter Roseville Medical Center in California, said recovery from surgeries and hospitalizations can become more difficult as people get older.
“Over time, people become unwell and their ability to quickly recover and resume normal activities is significantly reduced,” Yi said.
Yee advised patients in situations similar to Austin's to prioritize their health, saying they should “not only treat the immediate medical crisis, but also take time to recover before returning to full work.” “Importance” will be conveyed, he said.
Missy Ryan contributed to this report.