|
Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military
Medical Center in Maryland on Dec. 22 to treat prostate cancer.
He returned to the hospital on Jan. 1 due to complications
including a urinary tract infection. His hospitalization was not
revealed until four days later and the Pentagon did not specify
why he was being treated until Jan. 9.
"I’m grateful for the excellent care I received at Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center and want to thank the
outstanding doctors and nursing staff for their professionalism
and superb support. I also am thankful and appreciative for all
the well wishes I received for a speedy recovery," Austin said
in a statement regarding his release.
Doctors at Walter Reed said the Pentagon chief had received
testing and non-surgical care to address needs including leg
pain and would not need further cancer treatment.
"Secretary Austin's prostate cancer was treated early and
effectively, and his prognosis is excellent. He has no planned
further treatment for his cancer other than regular
post-prostatectomy surveillance," his doctors said in a
statement released by the Pentagon.
Austin will work remotely with access to secure communications
capabilities before returning to the Pentagon, the statement
said.
President Joe Biden said on Friday he had confidence in Austin
despite what the president agreed was a lapse in judgment by the
Pentagon chief over his secret hospitalization.
Austin's failure to tell Biden he was hospitalized drew
criticism from lawmakers and caught the White House by surprise.
The Defense Department's inspector general's office said on
Thursday it will begin a review this month of the handling of
Austin's hospitalization.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Katharine Jackson; Editing by
Mark Porter and Lisa Shumaker)
[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
