A Virginia hospital has fired nurse anesthetist Malinda Cook. This happened after TikTok videos of her went viral. In the videos, she encouraged people to harm or disable ICE agents. She spoke about drugs and other tactics. Virginia Commonwealth University Health said the content was inappropriate. The hospital confirmed she is no longer employed there.
Videos Spark Outrage After Nurse Suggests Dangerous Acts
The controversy started when short TikTok videos posted by the nurse began spreading far beyond the app. In the clips, she spoke directly to the camera and gave what she called “tips” to people who oppose ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
In one video, she told medical workers to take syringes and fill them with saline or a drug called succinylcholine. Doctors use this powerful medicine during surgery to relax muscles and help place breathing tubes. It causes temporary paralysis, and trained professionals must give it only in a controlled medical setting. She said even the idea of using such syringes could work as a “sabotage” or “scare” tactic.
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In another clip, she suggested mixing poison ivy or poison oak into water and spraying it at people with a water gun, which could cause painful rashes. In a third video, she talked about using dating apps to find ICE agents and secretly putting laxatives into their drinks to make them sick and unable to work for a day. She claimed no one would die and said it would be “easily deniable.”
Although the videos were later deleted, they were saved and shared widely on X and other platforms. Many people reacted with shock and anger, saying a medical professional should protect people, not suggest harming them.
Virginia Hospital Acts Swiftly After Videos Go Viral
After the videos spread online, Virginia Commonwealth University Health confirmed the person in the clips was its employee and said it began investigating right away. On Tuesday, the hospital announced that the nurse was no longer employed there.
In a statement, the hospital said it puts the health and safety of everyone first. It called the videos “highly inappropriate” and said they do not reflect the values or integrity of the health system.
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Hospitals are places where people expect care, trust, and safety. Medical staff have special training and access to powerful medicines, which is why many people said it was especially disturbing to hear such comments from someone in the medical field.
The hospital also said it knows the videos caused public concern and stressed that these views do not represent its staff. The nurse has not responded publicly to questions from reporters.
Strong Reaction Online and Serious Questions Raised
The videos appeared during a time of protests and strong debate over immigration enforcement in Virginia and across the country, when emotions were already high. Even so, many people from different backgrounds said the ideas shared in the clips went far beyond normal protest or speech.
Legal experts and medical professionals in Virginia warned that encouraging people to poison or drug others, even as a so-called “scare tactic,” could be a serious crime. They also said using or suggesting the use of prescription drugs outside medical care is illegal and dangerous. The drug mentioned, succinylcholine, stops muscles from moving, including those needed to breathe, and can be deadly if used without proper equipment and supervision. Even the idea of threatening people with syringes can cause panic, since no one knows what is inside.
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The suggestion to secretly put laxatives into someone’s drink also raised alarms, as tampering with food or drinks is illegal and can seriously harm someone, especially if they have health problems. Many people online said patients trust healthcare workers in Virginia to protect others and do no harm, not to scare or hurt anyone.
So far, there has been no public announcement of criminal charges. The main confirmed result is that the nurse lost her job, and the hospital said such behavior does not represent its values.