Biden Urged to Disclose Lloyd Austin’s Health Details
TL/DR –
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to publicly disclose for several days that he was in hospital for a serious medical condition. The Pentagon announced he had been in hospital since January 1 but did not inform the White House of his condition until three days later. Austin’s delay in disclosure has drawn criticism from figures including Senator Tom Cotton and former Vice President Mike Pence, who described the situation as “a dereliction of duty”.
Controversy Over Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s Medical Disclosure
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is under fire for not revealing sooner his hospitalization due to a serious medical condition. It was announced by the Pentagon late Friday that Austin had been in the hospital since Jan. 1 for an undisclosed elective medical procedure. The White House was not informed until three days after his hospitalization, according to a senior Defense official.
No details have been shared by Austin or the Pentagon regarding his hospital stay or the nature of his medical procedure. Austin has acknowledged that he “could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed” and has committed to improvement. His spokesman, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, has confirmed that Austin remains in the hospital but is recovering well.
Backlash Over Disclosure Delay
Sen Tom Cotton, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has publicly questioned why Austin delayed informing the White House about his medical condition, stressing the importance of the Secretary of Defense in the chain of command. The failure to promptly disclose such a significant health issue of a senior government official marks a break from the norm. In contrast, Austin swiftly announced that he had COVID-19 in August 2022, detailing his symptoms and plans to “retain all authorities.”
Allegations of Withholding Information
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has accused the Department of Defense of intentionally concealing Austin’s medical condition for days, labeling it as “unacceptable”. Former Vice President Mike Pence echoed these sentiments, calling Austin’s delay in disclosure “a dereliction of duty” and insisting that the American public has a right to know about the medical condition of the Secretary of Defense.
Considerations of HIPAA Laws and Leadership
Some, like Rep. James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, have expressed caution in critiquing Austin’s approach to his health issues. Clyburn emphasized the importance of HIPAA laws in protecting individual health information and stated his belief that Austin is as entitled to their protection as anyone else. Clyburn also asserted that Austin’s medical situation has not impacted his leadership, stating that Austin remains “in charge of things as he was before the illness.”
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