The emergency room doctor who publicly criticized President Donald Trump—during the time he was being treated for the viral pathogen responsible for the pandemic—was told he was removed from his schedule at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Dr. James Phillips is the chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University. He had been contracted to Walter Reed as an attending physician.
Back in October, Dr. Phillips criticized the President for taking his motorcade and Secret Service agents for a spin outside the hospital to wave to his maskless supporters for a photo-op, two days after being admitted to the hospital.
Phillips had tweeted:
"Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days."
"They might get sick. They may die."
"For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity."
Dr. Phillips added:
"That Presidential SUV is not only bulletproof, but hermetically sealed against chemical attack. The risk of [virus] transmission inside is as high as it gets outside of medical procedures."
"The irresponsibility is astounding. My thoughts are with the Secret Service forced to play."
Now the emergency medicine specialist has been informed his services are no longer needed.
During a pandemic. While cases are surging.
Dr. Phillips joins a long list of experts who were terminated for failing to show fealty to Trump.
On Sunday night, Dr. Phillips expressed having no regrets for his words.
"Today, I worked my final shift at Walter Reed ER. I will miss the patients and my military and civilian coworkers - they have been overwhelmingly supportive."
"I'm honored to have worked there and I look forward to new opportunities. I stand by my words, and I regret nothing."
In a statement to CNN, Walter Reed said there was "no decision made by anyone" to remove Dr. Phillips from the military medical center's rota.
The hospital added:
"As you may know, Dr. Phillips worked as a contract employee at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), which provides requirements for contract employees to the contract agency."
"The contract agency then works together with contract employees to determine individual schedules."
Twitter expressed their frustration.
People stood by the outspoken doc and thanked him for his services.
Dr. Phillips will continue his work at the George Washington School of Medicine.
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Ronald Grump the Muppet in 1988; Joe Pesci as Ronald Grump in 1994; Donald Grump in 2005PBS
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