Honk News (Houston, TX) – A Texas physician faced allegations of administering drugs during intricate surgical procedures on his patients — and despite having his license suspended, there remains a possibility for its reinstatement.
Nathan Starke, 39, served as a urologist at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, when concerns arose regarding his potential drug use during surgical procedures. The Texas Medical Board reports that Starke was involved in multiple surgeries during August and September of 2024 while seemingly impaired. On September 6, he faced suspension and was mandated to participate in drug testing. In October, he received a positive test result for cocaine.
In addition to the allegations surrounding his medical practice, Starke’s background includes a history of legal troubles.
Court documents reveal that Starke is currently facing an active criminal case stemming from charges of assaulting a former girlfriend in March 2023. A criminal complaint alleges that Starke forcefully pushed the woman with both hands, resulting in her falling and hitting her tailbone, back, and the back of her head on the floor. She indicated that she sustained bruising and chipped a tooth as a consequence.
Alongside the ongoing assault case, Starke faced two previous arrests — one in 2007 and another in 2017 — for operating a vehicle under the influence.
Documents acquired by KRIV, a local Fox affiliate, provided further insights into the Texas Medical Board’s allegations against Starke. A surgical biopsy on a patient’s prostate took place in August, raising concerns. Starke was allegedly “impaired” during that procedure. The decisive moment seems to have been a procedure in September during which Starke was present for only the final three minutes of a surgery he was supposed to oversee.
Officials at Houston Methodist have confirmed that Starke is no longer with the hospital.
His license, on the other hand, presents a different situation. Starke could potentially regain his license if the Texas Medical Board determines that he has made significant improvements in his behavior. The board has indicated that the suspension is not permanent, yet they emphasized that permitting Starke to proceed with surgery at this time “poses a continuing threat to public welfare.”