A nurse anesthetist bragged online about denying anesthesia to MAGA patients, only to surrender his Florida license days later under swift state enforcement.
Story Snapshot
- Erik Martindale posted a viral video refusing care to “MAGA patients,” violating core nursing ethics.
- Florida AG James Uthmeier announced the license surrender, stressing zero tolerance for politicized healthcare.
- Incident highlights individual bias, not hospital policies banning MAGA employees.
- Precedents in Florida and Virginia show pattern of nurses facing consequences for partisan outbursts.
- ANA Code of Ethics mandates care transcending political differences, aligning with common-sense patient rights.
Erik Martindale’s Viral Outburst
Erik Martindale, a Florida nurse anesthetist, posted a video bragging about refusing anesthesia to MAGA patients during surgery. The clip spread rapidly after Libs of TikTok shared it. Martindale’s actions directly contradicted the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, Provision 1, which demands care as a universal right beyond political beliefs. Florida authorities moved fast. Martindale voluntarily surrendered his license, ending his career in the state.
Florida AG Enforces Accountability
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Trump appointee, announced Martindale’s license status on X. Uthmeier declared healthcare cannot hinge on political beliefs and vowed zero tolerance for partisans prioritizing ideology over duty. The Florida Board of Nursing updated its registry, listing Martindale as inactive. This response underscores Florida’s strict oversight, protecting patients from biased providers. Common sense demands professionals check politics at the door.
Florida’s rapid action sets a precedent. Martindale’s unnamed employer likely separated from him to avoid malpractice risks. No evidence links this to hospital-wide policies against MAGA employees; the claim misinterprets isolated refusals.
Pattern of Partisan Incidents in Healthcare
Post-2024 election, similar cases emerged. In Virginia, nurse Malinda Cook lost her job at VCU Health after calling for paralyzing ICE agents with succinylcholine. A Boca Raton labor nurse surrendered her license over anti-White House comments targeting Karoline Leavitt. These align with conservative critiques of Trump Derangement Syndrome infiltrating vital services. Facts support accountability; excuses erode trust in healthcare.
U.S. nursing ethics trace to the Florence Nightingale Pledge, prohibiting discrimination by politics or beliefs. Social media amplifies these violations, pressuring regulators.
Ethical Violations and Stakeholder Roles
Stakeholders include Martindale, whose low power crumbled under scrutiny; Uthmeier, wielding high authority via the Board of Nursing; and Libs of TikTok, driving public outrage. The ANA holds normative sway, condemning such bias. Hospitals risk liability hiring flagged individuals. Relationships reveal Uthmeier signaling against politicization, while rogue nurses stand isolated.
Short-Term and Long-Term Consequences
Martindale faces unemployability in high-risk roles, deterring outbursts among providers. Florida nurses now endure heightened scrutiny. Long-term, this reinforces ethical boundaries and chills partisan social media posts. MAGA patients gain perceived protection; workforce trust erodes for all. Broader partisan divides fuel narratives of woke bias in healthcare, demanding vigilance.
As of late January 2026, no reinstatement reports exist. Martindale’s nationwide status remains unclear amid liability concerns.
Expert Views Align with Conservative Principles
Legal experts affirm nurses refuse care only for safety threats like violence, not red hats. Uthmeier echoes: politics never overrides duty. Conservatives in OutKick and The New American rightly decry these as TDS-driven; facts back their strength over provider dismissals. American values prioritize patient dignity and merit over ideology—common sense prevails here.
Sources:
Registered Nurse Loses Job After Bragging About Refusing To Help MAGA Patients (OutKick)
Another Nurse’s Career Ends After He Vows Not to Care for MAGA Patients (The New American)
