A Virginia hospital moved quickly this week to sever ties with a nurse anesthetist after videos surfaced online in which she encouraged medical professionals and activists to incapacitate federal immigration agents using drugs and other tactics.
According to the New York Post, Virginia Commonwealth University Health confirmed Tuesday that Malinda Cook was fired after multiple TikTok videos circulated in which she made the remarks.
The videos, recorded as anti-ICE protests and unrest were flaring across the country, spread rapidly on social media before being deleted.
Cook, who worked as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, was identified by local media after the clips were reposted widely online. In them, she openly discussed what she described as “sabotage” or “scare” tactics aimed at ICE agents.
“Sabotage tactic, or at least scare tactic. All the medical providers, grab some syringes with needles on the end,” Cook said in one video that circulated online.
“Have them full of saline or succinylcholine, you know, whatever. Whatever. That will probably be a deterrent. Be safe,” she added, referencing a fast-acting paralytic medication commonly used in anesthesia.
In another clip, Cook suggested using poison ivy or poison oak as a weapon against federal agents.
“OK for today’s resistance tip, I vote — anybody got any poison ivy, poison oak in their yard? Get some of that, with gloves, obviously, and get it in some water. Like a gallon of water,” she said. “And get the poison ivy oak water, and I’m going to put it into a water gun. Aim for faces, hands.”
She also encouraged women to target ICE agents through dating apps and spike their drinks, claiming it could temporarily incapacitate them.
“Single ladies, where these ICE guys are going, have a chance to do something, you know, not without risk, but could help the cause for sure,” Cook said.
“Get on Tinder, get on Hinge, find these guys. They’re around. They’re an ICE agent, bring some ex-lax and put it in their drinks. Get them sick. You know, nobody’s going to die. Just enough to incapacitate them and get them off the street for the next day. Highly, easily deniable.”
VCU Health launched an internal review after the videos were shared on X by LibsOfTikTok and quickly went viral, prompting widespread condemnation.
The hospital confirmed Cook’s termination in a statement issued Tuesday.
“We prioritize the health and safety of anyone who comes to us for care. We are aware of a series of videos that appear to have been posted by an individual confirmed to be an employee of our health system,” a spokesperson said.
“The content of the videos is highly inappropriate and does not reflect the integrity or values of our health system.”
The hospital did not comment further on whether the matter had been referred to law enforcement or professional licensing authorities.
