A Texas doctor is in hot water after being accused of using drugs while performing surgeries. Nathan Starke, a 39-year-old urologist from Houston, has had his medical license temporarily suspended, but there’s a chance he could get it back.
Starke worked at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, when concerns were raised about his behavior. According to the Texas Medical Board, he took part in several surgeries in August and September 2024 while appearing to be under the influence of drugs. Things came to a head in October when Starke tested positive for cocaine during a drug screening.
But the trouble doesn’t stop at his medical practice. Starke also has a criminal record. In March 2023, he was charged with assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Court documents claim he pushed her so hard that she fell and hit her back, tailbone, and head on the floor, resulting in bruises and a chipped tooth.
That’s not his only run-in with the law. Starke was previously arrested twice for driving while intoxicated — once in 2007 and again in 2017.
The Texas Medical Board has detailed some troubling incidents involving Starke at work. In one case, during a prostate biopsy in August 2024, he was allegedly impaired. In another instance in September, he was reportedly absent for almost an entire surgery, showing up only in the final three minutes, despite being the attending physician.
Houston Methodist Hospital has since confirmed that Starke no longer works there. However, his medical license is still up in the air. The suspension is temporary, and if the Texas Medical Board decides he has turned his life around, he might be allowed to practice again. For now, the board says allowing him to perform surgeries would be a “continuing threat to public welfare.”
This case raises serious questions about trust, safety, and accountability in the medical field, leaving many wondering how such situations can be prevented in the future.
