A Florida nurse who publicly declared he would refuse to provide anesthesia to patients he identified as “MAGA” has voluntarily given up his nursing license, state officials confirmed this week, as reported by The New York Post.

“Effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida,” James Uthmeier wrote Thursday in a post 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,” Uthmeier added.

Effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida.

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. https://t.co/JuUXdNvEfe

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) January 29, 2026

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Martindale’s comments first surfaced in a now-deleted social media post that quickly drew national attention.

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In that post, Martindale wrote, “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!”

After backlash intensified, Martindale claimed that his Facebook account had been hacked and that the comments did not reflect his views.

A high-ranking state official familiar with the situation confirmed that Martindale voluntarily relinquished his nursing license.

The official also said Martindale violated the nurse licensure compact agreement by relocating out of state to Indiana without notifying the Florida Board of Nursing, a requirement under Florida law.

Records on the Florida Department of Health website show Martindale’s license listed as “voluntarily relinquished” in the license status field associated with his license number.

According to the Department of Health, voluntary relinquishment “does not constitute discipline,” meaning the action was not formally classified as a punitive measure by regulators.

Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the Florida Board of Nursing for comment and attempted to contact Martindale directly, but did not receive a response.

The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of politically charged conduct by healthcare workers in Florida. Just days earlier, another nurse lost her job following a separate controversy involving inflammatory remarks about a public figure.

Lexie Lawler, a former labor and delivery nurse at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, was fired last week after posting a video in which she made comments about Karoline Leavitt during childbirth.

In the video, Lawler said, “As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Karoline Leavitt a fourth-degree tear.”

The remarks circulated widely on social media and prompted swift action by the hospital, which confirmed her termination.

Together, the two incidents have fueled debate over political bias in medical settings and raised questions about professional ethics and patient care standards.

Florida officials have stressed that personal politics cannot factor into decisions involving medical treatment or patient safety.

Attorney General Uthmeier’s office has not indicated whether further action will be taken in either case, but emphasized that healthcare providers are expected to adhere to ethical obligations regardless of political affiliation.

State regulators continue to remind license holders that discrimination based on political views is not permitted under Florida’s professional standards.

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