Nurse gives up licence after post saying he’d refuse to anesthetise MAGA patients
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A Florida nurse who sparked backlash with a social media post that said he would refuse to anesthetise MAGA patients is reportedly no longer licensed to work in the state. Erik Martindale’s account on social media suggested that he’d refuse medical care based on his patients’ political beliefs, which spread quickly before disappearing, Daily Mail reports. Now, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has said that Martindale ‘is no longer a registered nurse in Florida.’ (Picture: X/@libsoftiktok)
Martindale wrote that he ‘will not perform anaesthesia for any surgeries or procedures for MAGA’ (President Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement). It continued: ‘It is my right, it is my ethical oath, and I stand behind my education. I own all of my businesses and I can refuse anyone!’ As criticism of mounted, the post was deleted and Martindale reportedly claimed that his social media account had been hacked. (Picture: X)
Not long after, his social media accounts seemingly vanished altogether. Florida Attorney General Uthmeier said on Thursday that Martindale ‘is no longer a registered nurse in Florida.’ He wrote on X: ‘Healthcare is not contingent on political beliefs, and we have zero tolerance for partisans who put politics above their ethical duty to treat patients with the respect and dignity they deserve.’ (Picture: X/@AGJamesUthmeier)
A state official told Fox News that Martindale relinquished his license, saying he broke the compact agreement by moving out of the state without notifying the Florida Board of Nursing. It also reported that Florida’s Department of Health portal lists the change as a voluntary relinquish, which it says ‘does not constitute discipline.’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Uthmeier had referenced Martindale days earlier while discussing a broader issue involving healthcare workers and inflammatory political comments. He argued at a press conference that Martindale and another nurse should not be allowed to practice in Florida due to what they posted online, Daily Mail reports. (Picture: AP)
The other nurse was Alexis ‘Lexie’ Lawler, a 55-year-old labour and delivery nurse who made national news after posting a TikTok video earlier this month targeting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is pregnant. In the video, Lawler said: ‘I hope that you f****** rip from bow to stern and never s*** normally again, you c***.’ The remark sparked immediate condemnation from people across the political divide. (Picture: Facebook)
The comment referenced what’s known as a fourth-degree tear during labour, which often requires surgery. Lawler was fired from her role at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital. (Picture: WPTV)
On Wednesday, Lawler’s nursing license was reported to have been revoked. Uthmeier had already made his position clear at a press conference earlier in the week. ‘These people should not have a license,’ he said. ‘If you’re going to make threats by saying if someone’s a Republican and hope that they get severely injured in childbirth, that’s unacceptable.’ (Picture: Facebook)
