VCU Fires Nurse After Viral Videos Urging Attacks On ICE

Virginia Commonwealth University Health terminated Malinda Rose Cook, a nurse anesthetist, on Jan. 27, 2026, after videos circulated online in which she urged people to drug or poison Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, VCU Health said.

One video referenced succinylcholine, a fast-acting paralytic that can cause short-term paralysis of about four to six minutes, a detail medical sources say amplifies safety and legal concerns.

VCU Health said the content was "highly inappropriate," placed the employee on administrative leave while investigating, and later terminated her employment after completing its review, the health system said.

The episode comes amid other discipline actions against health workers over social media, including Florida labor and delivery nurse Lexie Lawler, who is no longer allowed to practice in the state, and Miami nurse Erik Martindale, whom Florida officials have sought to permanently revoke his license, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.

VCU removed Cook from its staff listing, the videos were deleted from the account identified as Redheadredemption, and VCU said it fulfilled reporting requirements under Virginia law while declining to provide further immediate comment, leaving open potential licensing reviews or other inquiries, officials and reporting show.