Washington — Dr. Brian Monahan, the U.S. Capitol’s attending physician, has resigned as lawmakers’ top physician, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday, amid allegations of misconduct.
“My understanding is that he resigned,” Thune said.
A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that Monahan, a two-star Navy admiral, resigned after allegations of misconduct related to what he chose to do and asked sailors under his command to do so in terms of care.
The resignation follows a report from the Defense Department’s inspector general that found lax oversight of the Office of the Attending Physician.
The public version of the oversight report, although scant in detail and including numerous redactions, says investigators found a “gap in clinical quality management.” The report found that some prescription medications, including sleeping pills and painkillers, were not properly inventoried or tracked.
These deficiencies, the inspector general said, could “lead OAP beneficiaries to unknowingly assume health and safety risks because clinical and prescribing practices were not monitored.”
CBS News has learned that the Navy is also investigating the attending physician’s office.
Monahan has been an attending physician since 2009. He is also a professor at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, and previously served as its chair of medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.
His removal was first reported by Punchbowl News. The Office of the Attending Physician did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Since 1928, the Navy – through the Office of the Attending Physician – has been responsible for caring for Congress, staff, the Supreme Court and visitors to the Capitol complex. In addition to administering minor first aid and providing other general medical services, the office assists in planning for and responding to disasters that may involve the Capitol.
CBS News asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday if he was aware of the circumstances surrounding Monahan’s firing. Jeffries said he hasn’t done that, but wants to ensure members’ health is protected.
The Navy Times reported that the bureau’s military personnel were forced to endure 70- to 80-hour work weeks and perform tasks “that no one else wants to do…like clipping a congressman’s nails or bringing his medication to his private residence at 3 a.m.”
The inspector general’s report included five recommendations to improve OAP, including designating an external group to oversee quality control and establishing policies and procedures for OAP employees.
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