Brian Monahan has resigned as attending physician of the US Capitol amid allegations of misconduct involving the care provided by his office and the sailors serving under him.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed the departure on Thursday, saying: “My understanding is he’s resigned.”
Monahan, a two-star Navy admiral, is alleged to have acted improperly in decisions about patient care and in tasks he asked sailors under his command to carry out. The precise nature of the allegations has not been made public.
His resignation coincides with a US Defence Department inspector general’s report which found inadequate oversight of the Office of the Attending Physician. The publicly released version contains extensive redactions and gives limited detail about the findings.
Investigators identified what they described as a “gap in clinical quality management”. They also found that some prescription medicines, including sleeping tablets and pain medication, were not properly inventoried or tracked.
The report warned that the shortcomings could leave patients facing health and safety risks because clinical and prescribing practices were not being adequately monitored.
The Navy is conducting a separate inquiry into the Office of the Attending Physician. The inspector general made five recommendations, including appointing an external body to oversee quality control and establishing formal policies and procedures for staff.
Monahan had held the post since 2009. The office provides medical care for members of Congress, staff, Supreme Court personnel and visitors to the Capitol complex, as well as supporting disaster planning and response at the site.
Reports have also alleged that military personnel in the office were pressured to work between 70 and 80 hours a week and carry out personal tasks for lawmakers, including cutting a congressman’s toenails or delivering medication to a private residence in the early hours.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Monahan’s departure, but wanted to ensure that the health of members of Congress was protected.
Monahan is also a professor at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, where he previously served as chairman of medicine. He is certified in internal medicine, haematology and medical oncology.
