Transcription
A video posted by a labor and delivery nurse is spreading far beyond Boca Raton tonight, and what she said is now costing her her career. And it took just hours for city leaders and hospital executives to step in. CBS 12 news reporter Katie Benner is live outside the Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital with those details. Katie. Liz. Jim.
The video at the center of this story is graphic, so we did censor most of it. But officials say what you're about to hear is what cost a Boca Raton nurse her job? "I hope that you rip from bow to stern and never normally again. You."
The woman in the video is Lexi Lawler, a now former labor and delivery nurse at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Her comments were directed at White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, who recently announced she's pregnant with her second child. "As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Caroline Leavitt a fourth degree tear." A fourth degree tear, one of the most severe childbirth injuries.
I asked people their take on the video, especially if it's a labor and delivery nurse. "Like I'm trusting you with one of the most sacred moments of my life. I would definitely be very uncomfortable."
The video was later set to private, but not before it got clicks. The Libs of TikTok account posted, along with a photo that appears to show Lawler wearing a shirt with a political message about President Donald Trump. Boca Raton's mayor also weighing in, calling the comments disgusting and that Lawler is no longer employed.
Baptist Health confirming that decision, telling CBS 12 news the comments do not reflect its values and that there is no place in health care for language or behavior that calls into question a caregiver's ability to provide compassionate, unbiased care. "Everyone has social media, everyone has a technological device, you know, and when you have a career, I think it's even more important for you to be conscientious of what you say."
The hospital added that while personal opinions are protected, professional standards are not. Now, as of tonight, Lawler has not commented publicly to this backlash and her acc