Florida nurse voluntarily gives up license after saying he won't perform anesthesia on MAGA patients
Erik Martindale posted on social media that he would not 'perform anesthesia' for Trump supporters before later claiming his account was hacked
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Rachel del GuidiceFox NewsPublished
January 29, 2026 6:50pm ESTclose
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A Florida nurse who said he would not "perform anesthesia" for "MAGA" patients has relinquished his license.
"Effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida," Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote in a Thursday X post.
"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," he added.
A Florida nurse who said he would not "perform anesthesia" for "MAGA" patients has relinquished his license. (iStock)
In a since-deleted post on social media, Martindale said, "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!"
Martindale later said that his Facebook account was hacked.
A high-ranking state official familiar with the situation confirmed that Martindale relinquished his license, as well as said that he broke the compact agreement by moving out of state to Indiana without notifying the Florida Board of Nursing.
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The portal bearing Martindale’s license number and license verification on the Florida Department of Health’s website says that he voluntarily relinquished his license in the "license status" field. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
The portal bearing Martindale’s license number and license verification on the Florida Department of Health’s website says that he voluntarily relinquished his license in the "license status" field. According to Florida's Department of Health website, voluntary relinquishment "does not constitute discipline."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Florida Board of Nursing, and attempted to contact Martindale for comment.
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In a since-deleted post on social media, Martindale said, "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!" (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
This comes as another Florida nurse, Lexie Lawler, a former labor and delivery nurse at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, was fired last week after posting a video where she wished Leavitt permanent harm during childbirth.
In her video, Lawler said, "as a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Karoline Leavitt a fourth degree tear."
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Rachel del Guidice is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to rachel.delguidice@fox.com.
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