Lloyd Austin’s Cancer Revelation: Apology and Responsibility
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Lloyd Austin (70), the U.S. Secretary of Defense, sparked controversy for not telling the president and the public about his cancer diagnosis and hospitalization. He admitted to a lack of communication and apologized to President Joe Biden and the American people.
According to CNN, Austin held his first press conference on the 1st (local time) after returning to work at the Department of Defense. He said, “I should have told the President and the American public about my cancer diagnosis,” and “I will take all responsibility.” He also conveyed, “I apologize to my team members and the American people.”
Austin underwent prostate cancer surgery in mid-December last year and was readmitted to the hospital on the 1st of last month due to symptoms from a urinary tract infection.
However, President Biden, who has military command authority, was informed of the hospitalization only on the 4th of last month, and it was revealed that the Deputy Secretary of Defense, who needed to act for Austin, was unaware of the hospitalization for three days. This raised concerns about a lack of communication within the administration and a void in the Department of Defense’s command and control.
Austin refuted that there had never been a moment’s gap in the military control system, saying, “I initially did not want to disclose my cancer diagnosis because it is not my style to tell others about my problems.”
However, he added that he realized through this experience that he has a responsibility to inform the public about health issues that can affect the performance of high-ranking officials.
He also advised prostate cancer patients not to hide their cancer diagnosis and to seek treatment actively. In the United States, prostate cancer is known to occur more frequently in black men than in white men, and many cases are known to hide the fact of the disease.
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