By The opinion
12 Feb 2024, 08:21 AM EST
The Secretary of Defense of the United States, Lloyd Austinwas admitted yesterday Sunday to the intensive care unit of the Walter Reed military hospital to treat a bladder problem, less than a month after his controversial hospitalization.
The Pentagon reported in a statement that the decision was made so that it would receive close monitoring. At the moment it is not known how long he will have to remain hospitalized.
According to the note, the prognosis for him to recover from the prostate cancer he suffers from “continues to be excellent” and the bladder problem experienced is not expected to affect that situation.
Defense Department spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder had also reported this Sunday that Austin’s “functions and duties” have been transferred to Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
On January 15, Austin was discharged from the same hospital after spending two weeks in the hospital.
Lloyd, 70, suffers from prostate cancer and underwent a prostatectomy on December 22 and was subsequently discharged, but on the night of January 1 he returned to the medical center due to a urinary tract infection resulting from the operation. and was admitted to the intensive care unit.
His hospitalization generated enormous controversy given that neither Austin nor his team informed the president, Joe Biden, of what happened until January 4, three days after being admitted, and the Pentagon did not issue a statement to the press until January 5.
The opposition has denounced that during those days there was a power vacuum at the head of the Pentagon at a critical moment, when the Gaza war threatens a regional escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
With information from EFE.
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