Shocking violent past of prominent Houston surgeon as he's caught operating on patients while high on cocaine
After testing positive for using cocaine while in the operating room, a Houston surgeon's violent past has now been revealed.
Urologist Nathan Robert Starke, M.D., has been fired from his job at Houston Methodist Hospital and his medical license has been temporarily suspended after he tested positive for cocaine and kratom, an opioid-like herb, in October, reported local TV station Fox 26.
Adding to the physician's troubles, his lengthy criminal record has also now surfaced.
Most recently, he was arrested last year and charged for beating his girlfriend during an incident where he's accused of throwing her on the ground and chipping her tooth.
But he had had two previous run-ins with cops for alleged drunk driving in 2007 and 2017.
It's unclear whether the hospital the employed him was aware of his legal troubles.
However, his job had been monitoring his drug use since at least 2023 when Starke was suspended for what the hospital called 'impairment,' according to ABC 13 in Houston.
He had been taking part in drug and alcohol screening but continued to participate in surgeries.
Urologist Nathan Robert Starke, M.D., has been fired from his job at Houston Methodist Hospital and his medical license has been temporarily suspended
A jail booking photo shows Dr. Starke after he was arrested for physically assaulting his girlfriend in Houston
In August and in September 2024, he participated in several surgeries while appearing impaired, co-workers described.
During an August operation, Starke looked impaired during a surgical biopsy on a patient's prostate.
The next month, the Baylor College of Medicine 'was absent for all but the last three minutes of a surgery for which he was the attending physician,' the Texas medical board said.
His medical license was suspended that same month, as he continued to be screened for drugs.
Despite the surveillance of drug use, he tested positive for cocaine use in October, and later tested positive for using kratom in a separate test on Oct. 22, KPRC reported.
Starke signed a voluntary cease practice agreement with Houston Methodist on Sept. 16 and he is no longer working at the hospital.
The urologist's medical license has been suspended for using cocaine while operating
Dr. Nathan Robert Starke was arrested for driving under the influence in 2007
A legal expert says patients who underwent care with Starke might have a hard time taking him to court.
'It's very hard in Texas to prove medical malpractice because the law is such that doctors and hospitals are protected under many, many circumstances,' Legal Analyst Chris Tritico told Fox 26.
'You have to prove the doctor was impaired when he was operating on you. Then, you have to prove that impaired status caused you harm.'
