Nurses Taking a Stand Against Immigration Policies
Nurses across the United States seem to be making their voices heard, taking a stance against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and expressing opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies.
While hospitals are actively stepping in to ensure safety, there’s growing evidence that some nurses might be trying to use their positions to promote their personal political beliefs.
The largest union representing nurses has called for the complete abolition of ICE.
Actions Against ICE
This past Tuesday, Virginia Commonwealth University Health confirmed that a nurse was terminated after she posted videos on social media encouraging fellow medical professionals to consider using a “sabotage tactic” against ICE. In these videos, she discussed preparing syringes with saline or succinylcholine, a drug that can induce temporary paralysis.
“After an investigation, the individual involved in the videos is no longer employed by VCU Health,” the hospital stated. They also mentioned that they have adhered to reporting requirements outlined by Virginia state law.
Prior to the termination, both the hospital and VCU Police had initiated an investigation into her activities.
Denying Care to Trump Supporters?
In Florida, a registered nurse named Erik Martindale made headlines when he declared on Facebook that he would not provide anesthesia to patients who support the “Make America Great Again” movement. Though he later deleted the post, he asserted that his account had been hacked.
The deleted message stated, “I will not perform anesthesia for any surgeries or procedures for MAGA. It’s my right, my ethical oath, and I’m fully behind my education.”
The Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has since notified the Board of Nursing about Martindale’s statements.
Suffering a Fourth-Degree Tear?
Karoline Leavitt, a White House press secretary, recently announced her pregnancy with a second child. Following this, Lexie Lawler, a labor and delivery nurse at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, posted a video on social media expressing the hope that Leavitt would experience a painful childbirth injury, specifically a “fourth-degree tear.”
A fourth-degree tear is indeed quite serious, necessitating surgical intervention.
As a result of her comments, the hospital dismissed Lawler, asserting that her remarks were inconsistent with their values. “We respect personal opinions but there’s no place for language that undermines a caregiver’s ability to provide compassionate care,” a hospital representative commented.
Furthermore, Uthmeier announced that Lawler’s nursing license had been revoked by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.
Lawler, unfazed by the firing, initiated a fundraising campaign asserting that she lost her job due to political expression, raising over $13,000 as of Thursday. “If you think liberal women shouldn’t lose their jobs for speaking their minds, support Lexie,” stated the campaign.
The Movement for Abolition
Despite the apparent disconnection among these instances, America’s largest nurses’ union released a statement advocating for the abolition of ICE.
National Nurses United, which claims to represent 225,000 nurses, expressed outrage over the death of Alex Pretti, who was shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents, now on leave as an investigation unfolds.
“The nation’s nurses are horrified that immigration agents have once again committed cold-blooded murder of a public observer who posed no threat,” the union stated after Pretti’s death.
“ICE and similar agencies have shown through their violence that they pose a serious public health threat,” it added. The union also called for a vote against the Homeland Security appropriations bill and committed to campaigning against any elected officials supporting agency funding.
Risks of Politicizing Healthcare
Dr. Kurt Miceli, chief medical officer at Do No Harm, highlighted the dangers of intertwining politics with healthcare.
“As we’ve seen, if medical institutions allow extreme politics to shape their training or curricula, they shouldn’t be surprised when they produce activists instead of competent healthcare providers,” Miceli remarked.
“Healthcare professionals should not make violent threats against any government officials or political supporters, as this violates the ethical foundation of our field,” he stated. “Medical practice needs to prioritize patient care and keep politics at bay.”
