A Florida nurse has chosen to give up his professional credentials following a controversial social media post. Erik Martindale, whose comments sparked widespread attention, announced he would no longer administer anesthesia to patients identified with the “MAGA” movement. This decision led him to surrender his nursing license.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed the development on Thursday, stating, “Effective today, Erik Martindale is no longer a registered nurse in Florida.” Uthmeier emphasized the importance of impartiality in healthcare, declaring, “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.”

The uproar began when Martindale posted on social media that he refused to provide anesthesia services to supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement. He claimed, “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!” However, this post has since been removed.

Following the backlash, Martindale asserted that his Facebook account had been compromised, suggesting that he did not author the contentious statement.

Martindale later said that his Facebook account was hacked. 

A high-ranking state official familiar with the situation confirmed that Martindale relinquished his license, adding he broke the compact agreement by moving out of state to Indiana without notifying the Florida Board of Nursing.

The portal bearing Martindale’s license number and license verification on the Florida Department of Health’s website says 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. 

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 in which 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.”