WASHINGTON — Dr. Brian Monahan, the private doctor to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, resigned amid a military investigation of his office for a toxic work environment as well as staff complaints, including being ordered to cut lawmakers’ toenails as part of their medical duties.
The Office of the Attending Physician of the Capitol, a nondescript set of rooms hidden in the basement of the historic building, dispenses discreet medical care to members of Congress, their staff, and Supreme Court justices.
The office has always been led by a Navy physician. Monahan, who had held the post since 2009, is a two-star admiral.
But the doctor — who was personal physician to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and who oversaw his care while he remained out of public view recovering from a stroke — faced allegations of misconduct related to what he ordered the sailors stationed under him to do as part of their duties.
One sailor stationed in the office told Navy Times that some of their duties included tasks “no one else wants to do,” such as: “cutting a congressman’s toenails or bringing their medication to their private residence at 3 a.m.”
They were also required to work 70- to 80-hour weeks and threatened with the loss of bonuses if they complained too much.
“We usually worked 12-hour shifts, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with duty every other day,” a former Navy hospital corpsman assigned to the office told the outlet.
“On duty days, if Congress stayed in session late, the duty crew stayed, too, sometimes until about 4 a.m. We still had to be back for a regular 6 a.m. shift.”
Additionally, there were questions about whether Monahan’s office dispensed medications to lawmakers and their staff without prescriptions, causing a “health and safety” risk.
A public report by the Defense Department’s inspector general found lax oversight in the office, particularly when it came to prescription drugs.
The public version of the report does not give many specifics and includes numerous redactions. But it found that some prescription drugs, including sleep aids and pain medication, were not properly inventoried or tracked.
The lack of procedure meant the office assumed “health and safety risks because clinical and prescribing practices were not monitored,” the report found.
Lawmakers can be treated for any medical need by the office, including routine physicals, immunizations, minor first aid, and stabilization in the case of a medical emergency.
The office can also write out routine prescriptions, coordinate referrals to outside specialists, and dispense vaccinations ahead of overseas travel.
Additionally, the office is responsible for planning and responding to disasters that may involve the Capitol.
Generally, Monahan kept a low profile, but there were some controversies over his recommendations during the COVID pandemic.
