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Austin treated for early prostate cancer, serious intestinal complications: Walter Reed

2024-01-10 00:00:00.0 ABC新闻-政治新闻原网页

Austin treated for early prostate cancer, serious intestinal complications: Walter Reed Austin's secretive hospitalization has been at the center of controversy.

By Selina Wang and Luis Martinez

January 9, 2024, 2:55 PM

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 18, 2023.

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

The White House on Tuesday is ordering a review of Cabinet protocols for delegating authority after the fallout from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's undisclosed hospitalization, according to a memo obtained by ABC News.

A short time after the issue of the White House memo, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center -- which treated Austin -- released a detailed statement about his care, saying he underwent a procedure to treat early prostate cancer and then a urinary tract infection that led to serious intestinal complications. Austin was under general anesthesia.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday that Austin's prostate cancer and its treatment are "deeply personal."

"As I've highlighted, it's prostate cancer and the associated procedures are obviously deeply personal, and so again, you know, we'll continue to work hard to make sure we are being as transparent as possible moving forward and again, wish the secretary a speedy recovery," Ryder said.

The White House memo directs departments and agencies to submit their existing protocols for review by Jan. 12.

The memo, written by White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, says that while the review is ongoing, Cabinet agencies must adhere to procedures, including notifying the White House when agencies anticipate a delegation of authority and documenting the delegation of authority in writing.

The protocols will be reviewed to ensure they address the following: delegation criteria, decision-making authority, applicable documentation, notification procedures, and rescission of delegation.

The memo says agencies should ensure "delegations are issued when a Cabinet Member is traveling to areas with limited or no access to communication, undergoing hospitalization or a medical procedure requiring general anesthesia, or otherwise in a circumstance when he or she may be unreachable.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.