Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson, who was the director of the White House Medical Unit between 2010 and 2014 and the president’s physician from 2013 to 2018, faced criticism after a Defense Department investigation revealed severe problems with the dispensation of medication in the White House. However, he denies being involved.
Concerning findings
A multi-year investigation by the Department of Defense concluded that “all phases of the White House Medical Unit’s pharmacy operations had severe and systemic problems.” These issues included buying name-brand medications instead of generic equivalents, providing services to ineligible staff, and “prescribing errors and inadequate medication management.”
Dangerous outcome
As the investigation report notes, these issues increased “the risk to the health and safety of patients treated within the unit.” For example, the improper dispensation of medications “increased the risk for the diversion of controlled substances.”
Accusations fly
A picture of a medication prescription tracker went viral on X, formerly Twitter. It shows massive amounts of powerful medications like fentanyl being dispensed.
Candy shop
“White House doctor Ronny Jackson was handing out fentanyl and ketamine like candy,” Democratic advisor Lindy Li wrote. “Why was Trump’s medical staff handing out ketamine and fentanyl?” political commentator Matthew Yglesias asked.
Serious situation
“I think we should consider ‘Congressman Ronny Jackson should answer for all of this and probably lose his medical license’ as an initial response,” legal analyst Luppe B. Luppen wrote.
Denial
A spokesperson for Jackson insisted that his role in the White House “had no association or involvement with the White House Medical Unit’s clinical delivery of care.”
Shocking report
“Trump’s WH Medial Unit handed out sleeping pills, uppers, and a variety of highly addictive opioids like candy (w/almost NO oversight) and how this isn’t an ALL CAPS scandal is beyond me,” a legal commentator on X wrote. “The DoD IG report is shocking.”
Lack of impact
“It’s not a scandal because it’s Trump,” one X user commented. “That’s it.” According to political science professor Thomas Gift, the scandal is “not going to be a make-or-break political issue.”
Wasted money
According to the Defense Department’s investigation, the White House Medical Unit spent almost $100,000 on Provigil over three years. The name-brand medication is 55 times more expensive than generic equivalents.
Should face consequences
“Get his DEA license first,” an X user said about Jackson. “Then worry about his medical license. If I ever dispensed controlled substances without the proper documentation, the DEA would light my license on fire.”
Damp squib
“Ronny Jackson is so happy he’s in one of the only states whose medical board won’t bring him in for an investigation now,” an X user commented. “The quantity of pills handed out is amazing,” another wrote. “Hundreds of pills at one time. Nobody prescribes like that. Well, no qualified doctor.”
New practices
The Defense Department’s Inspector General provided the Pentagon with a series of recommendations to fix some of the issues found in the investigation. The Pentagon agreed to implement them all.
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