Nurse Claims ‘Ethical Oath’ to Refuse Treating MAGA Patients, Florida AG Alerts Nursing Board

A Florida medical professional is facing potential professional consequences after publicly stating he would refuse medical care to supporters of President Donald Trump, prompting a response from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and drawing comparisons to a similar incident involving another nurse in the state just days earlier, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The controversy began Sunday when Erik Martindale, identified as a male nurse and anesthesiologist, posted on his Facebook account that he would not provide anesthesia to patients who support the Make America Great Again movement.

The post quickly spread on social media, drawing widespread criticism from across the political spectrum.

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“I will not perform anesthesia for any surgeries or procedures for MAGA,” Martindale wrote in the now-deleted post. “It is my right, it is my ethical oath, and I stand behind my education.”

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. @FLNursingBoard pic.twitter.com/CP3dWHH1CX

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 26, 2026

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Martindale further claimed he was entitled to deny care based on political beliefs because of his ownership status. “I own all of my businesses, and I can refuse anyone!” he wrote.

The statements sparked immediate backlash, with critics accusing Martindale of violating professional medical standards and the Hippocratic oath by openly stating he would deny treatment based on a patient’s political views.

After the post circulated widely, Martindale deleted it and later claimed his account had been hacked.

Martindale did not provide details explaining how or why his account would have been targeted, particularly as he was not previously known publicly before the incident.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded publicly, directing attention to the Florida Nursing Board. “Here we go again…Paging @FLNursingBoard!”

Uthmeier wrote, signaling potential regulatory scrutiny over the remarks and whether they violate professional licensing standards.

Here we go again…

Paging @FLNursingBoard! https://t.co/jihzsWb9xk

— James Uthmeier (@JamesUthmeierFL) January 26, 2026

The incident follows a similar controversy involving another Florida nurse earlier in the week. Lexie Lawler, a labor and delivery nurse at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, was terminated after making graphic comments directed at Karoline Leavitt.

“I hope you f**king rip from bow to stern and never sh*t normally again, you c*nt,” Lawler said in remarks that circulated online.

Lawler was fired following those comments, according to reporting at the time.

Both incidents have fueled renewed debate in Florida over professional conduct standards in healthcare and whether political hostility expressed by medical professionals can or should trigger disciplinary action.

In each case, the comments originated on social media and were later removed after public backlash intensified.

As of now, no formal disciplinary action has been publicly announced against Martindale. However, the involvement of the state’s top legal officer and the public referral to the Florida Nursing Board indicate the matter is under review.

The cases underscore how social media activity by licensed professionals can rapidly escalate into regulatory and employment consequences, particularly when statements suggest a willingness to deny care based on political affiliation.

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