In a decisive move to protect public welfare, the Texas Medical Board has placed a Houston urologist's medical license under temporary suspension following revelations that he performed surgeries while allegedly impaired and later tested positive for cocaine. Dr. Nathan Starke, formerly of Houston Methodist, came under scrutiny after incidents in August and September of 2024 suggested impairment during surgical procedures, leading to his suspension by the hospital on September 6, and subsequent positive test for cocaine on October 15, according to Click2Houston.
The Texas Medical Board, following its standard protocols, suspended Starke's license, citing that his "continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare," as reported by KHOU 11 News. Starke, who also failed to initiate the agreed-upon Interim Monitoring Agreement with the Board, will face a temporary suspension hearing, which is slated to occur with a minimum of 10 days' notice to the embattled urologist, barring any waivers from him. This suspension is set to remain in place until the Board determines further action.
Prior to these developments, Starke had been featured on a KPRC 2+ livestream discussing men's health, a stark contrast to his current situation, as noted by Click2Houston; Houston Methodist has affirmed that Starke is no longer associated with their establishment. As this story unfolds, attempts have been made to reach out for additional commentary from the hospital, with no further details provided as of yet. The urologist's professional information has since been removed from the Houston Methodist website in the wake of these events.
