A nurse anesthetist at Virginia Commonwealth University Health has been terminated after posting controversial videos on TikTok that encouraged harmful actions against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The New York Post reported that Malinda Cook, previously employed at the hospital, was dismissed on Tuesday after her online content went viral, prompting an internal investigation and swift action from the health system, which emphasized that her remarks did not align with institutional values or commitment to patient safety.
Cook’s now-deleted TikTok videos, which were reposted on X by LibsOfTikTok, included alarming suggestions for medical professionals and activists to target ICE agents with harmful tactics.
In one clip, she proposed using syringes filled with saline or succinylcholine—a drug causing temporary paralysis—as a deterrent, a notion that raises serious ethical and legal concerns for anyone in the medical field.
“Sabotage tactic, or at least scare tactic. All the medical providers, grab some syringes with needles on the end,” Cook said in a TikTok video, setting a tone that many find reckless for someone in her position.
Her ideas didn’t stop at medical tools; Cook also suggested using poison ivy or oak mixed with water in water guns to aim at ICE agents’ faces and hands.
In yet another video, she urged women to use dating apps like Tinder and Hinge to meet ICE agents, then spike their drinks with laxatives to temporarily incapacitate them and keep them off duty.
“Get on Tinder, get on Hinge, find these guys. They’re around,” Cook advised in a TikTok video, pushing a strategy that’s not just unethical but teeters on dangerous deception.
Once the videos spread online and gained traction, Virginia Commonwealth University Health wasted no time launching an investigation into Cook’s conduct.
A spokesperson confirmed her termination on Tuesday, making it clear that the hospital prioritizes the safety of all who seek care and found her content utterly incompatible with their standards.
It’s a relief to see an institution act quickly to distance itself from such misguided rhetoric, especially in a field where trust is paramount.
Cook’s case isn’t just about one person’s poor judgment; it highlights a growing tension between personal expression on social media and professional responsibility, particularly in sensitive roles like healthcare.
While everyone has a right to their views on immigration policy, suggesting physical harm or deception as a form of protest crosses a line that no hospital—or society—can afford to ignore.
The Post reached out to Cook for comment but received no response, leaving her side of the story untold for now.
