Austin is still not out of the hospital. The Ministry of Defense's slow disclosure of his treatment has become a scandal in the United States.
of the United States Minister of Defense Lloyd Austin was operated on on December 22 due to prostate cancer, the Walter Reed military hospital said on Tuesday, according to news agencies AFP and Reuters, among others.
Prostate cancer was found in laboratory tests. The hospital says that the cancer was found at an early stage.
According to the hospital, the surgery was mini-invasive, i.e. done through very small skin incisions.
After the surgery, Austin had, among other things, nausea and pain in his stomach and legs. Because of the symptoms, he was examined and found out that he had a urinary tract infection. As a result, he was taken to the hospital for intensive care on New Year's Day, where he stayed for four days. He no longer has inflammation.
Austin remains in the hospital but is said to have resumed work on Friday. The hospital anticipates Austin will likely make a full recovery, but recovery may be slow.
Urinary tract infection was the reason for Austin's absence, for the announcement of which the Ministry of Defense has received considerable criticism. The background is also the war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas and the tightening situation in the Middle East, which the defense minister is also supposed to be aware of.
The Ministry of Defense notified senior officials of the White House and the President For Joe Biden only three days after admission to intensive care. Citizens were informed about this on Friday.
According to AFP, the White House has launched an investigation into what should be done when the country's leading official is unable to perform his duties.
Specially Republicans have demanded Austin's resignation or dismissal because of the issue, AFP reports. Biden is not firing Austin, said a spokesperson for the US National Security Council John Kirby early Tuesday morning Finnish time.
“Our focus now is on Minister Austin's health and making sure he gets the care he needs,” Kirby said.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Austin is not resigning, reported news agency Reuters.
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