Brian Monahan out as attending physician to Congress amid Pentagon probe

Rear Adm. Brian Monahan is no longer the attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court, more than a year after the Pentagon launched an investigation into alleged misconduct at the office he headed.

“I am no longer serving with the Office of Attending Physicians,” Monahan said in a voicemail message he said had been recorded Wednesday.

Monahan had served since 2009 as the top doctor at the Office of Attending Physician, which provides in-house health care and emergency aid to Congress and the Supreme Court. Within the OAP, Navy medical personnel provide health care under the attending physician’s direction.

Monahan’s departure comes the same week as the Defense Department inspector general’s office published a report that said there had been insufficient oversight of Navy personnel assigned to the OAP.

“Without clinical quality management oversight, Navy personnel may face unclear guidance, inconsistent standards, and pressure to engage in practices that deviate from established medical requirements,” the report stated.

The report also found there had not been the number of regular inspections and inventories of the OAP pharmacy required by law. The most recent inspection, in February, found shortages of sleep aid medication held at the pharmacy versus how many tablets were listed on an inventory, according to the report. There were also discrepancies in the quantities of other controlled substances.

The Navy Times reported Thursday that sailors assigned to the OAP complained of a toxic work environment, including being pressured to work 70 to 80 hours per week and performing unwanted tasks, such as cutting a congressman’s toenails.

Monahan and representatives for the Navy did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday about whether he had been fired or had resigned. The Defense Department referred questions to the Navy.