Florida Nurse Loses License

After Vowing No Anesthesia for MAGA Supporters

In a stark example of how social media can ignite professional fallout, Florida registered nurse Erik Martindale has lost his nursing license following a controversial post refusing to provide anesthesia to patients supporting the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. The incident, amplified across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), has fueled debates on healthcare impartiality, ethics, and the perils of partisan online rants.

The Inflammatory Post That Started It All

Martindale, a University of Miami graduate and business owner, posted on multiple social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads: "I will not perform anesthesia for any surgeries or procedures for MAGA. 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!"

The post quickly went viral after being highlighted by influential accounts. For instance, Libs of TikTok shared it with the caption: "Meet Erik Martindale, a registered Florida nurse. He says he won’t give anesthesia for Republicans undergoing surgery and believes that’s his right and is ethical. He needs to be fired and stripped of his license immediately.

Swift Backlash and Official Response

Conservative users and officials condemned the statement as a breach of medical ethics. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded publicly: "Effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida. We have zero tolerance for partisans who put politics above their ethical duty to treat patients with the respect and dignity they deserve."

Uthmeier's office notified the Florida Board of Nursing, sparking an investigation into violations of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, which requires unbiased care for all patients. Critics argued it contradicted the Hippocratic Oath's "do no harm" principle, emphasizing that healthcare must remain apolitical.

Martindale claimed his accounts were hacked, but skepticism abounded as the post appeared consistently across platforms without other tampering. Libs of TikTok dismissed the excuse: "Nobody is buying this Erik. We have all the receipts! You’re about to see the FO stage of FAFO."

Similar Incident: Lexie Lawler and Karoline Leavitt

Just days earlier, labor and delivery nurse Lexie Lawler at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital faced identical consequences for a graphic video wishing horrific childbirth complications on pregnant White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Libs of TikTok broke the story with this viral post (over 43,000 likes and 8 million views):

The hospital fired her immediately. Communications Manager Ryan D. Lieber stated: "The comments... do not reflect our values... the individual is no longer employed by our health system."

Lawler's Florida nursing license was then emergency suspended and ultimately revoked. Florida Surgeon General and Attorney General acted swiftly.

Broader Implications

These back-to-back cases—Martindale refusing care to MAGA supporters and Lawler wishing trauma on a political figure—highlight Florida's zero-tolerance stance on political bias in healthcare. They raise questions about conscience protections under SB 1580, which allows moral opt-outs but not partisan discrimination.

National media, including Fox News and the New York Post, covered both stories as warnings against injecting politics into life-or-death professions.

Martindale and Lawler have not commented further. The Florida Board of Nursing confirmed both license actions but offered no additional details.

Sources for Erik Martindale Incident

1. CBS12 News: "Second FL nurse loses RN status after posts saying he'd refuse anesthesia to MAGA patients" - Link

2. Newsweek: "Nurse Gives Up License After Saying He Won't Anesthetize MAGA Supporters" - Link

3. Raw Story: "Anesthesiologist loses nursing license after vowing to refuse care for MAGA patients" - Link

4. AOL/Fox News: "Florida nurse voluntarily gives up license after saying he won't perform anesthesia on MAGA patients" - Link

5. Daily Mail: "Nurse banned from working in his home state of Florida after saying he wouldn't anesthetize MAGA supporters" - Link

6. WPTV: "Florida nurse barred after social media post refusing anesthesia for Republican patients" - Link

7. Florida Voice: "Florida nurse's license revoked after viral post promising to refuse anesthesia to 'MAGA' patients" - Link

8. Libs of TikTok X Post (Revocation Announcement): Breaking update on license revocation - Link

9. Libs of TikTok X Post (Original Exposure): Introduction to Martindale's post - Link

Sources for Lexie Lawler Incident

1. Palm Beach Post: "Florida bans Boca nurse following her TikTok post on Karoline Leavitt" - Link

2. KOMO News: "Florida AG demands nurse's license revoked after 'vile' TikTok, supporters say free speech" - Link

3. WPBF: "Florida bans nurse from practicing after disturbing social media comments about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt" - Link

4. Yahoo News: "Florida bans nurse for TikTok post about Trump's press secretary" - Link

5. KATV: "Florida AG: Boca Raton nurse 'no longer allowed to practice,' after viral TikTok" - Link

6. CBS12: "What happens next for the Boca Raton nurse fired over social media comments?" - Link

7. Libs of TikTok X Post (Firing Update): Announcement that Lawler is no longer employed - Link

8. Libs of TikTok X Post (Original Exposure): Introduction to Lawler's video