Nurse Suspended for Reporting Doctor Who ‘Cheered’ Charlie Kirk’s Death

Lexi Kuenzle, a 33-year-old nurse at Englewood Health in New Jersey, has filed a lawsuit after being suspended without pay.

She alleges the hospital retaliated against her for speaking out when a doctor on staff, Dr. Matthew Jung, made statements celebrating the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The incident allegedly occurred in front of other medical staff and a patient.

What Happened?

Kuenzle says she was at a nurse’s station, with eight other nurses and a patient in view, when Kirk’s death was announced. Disturbed by comments attributed to Dr. Jung, who reportedly said, “He had it coming. He deserved it”.

Kuenzle challenged him, asking how a doctor could say someone “deserved to die.” She then reported the comment to hospital management and posted about it on her personal social media account. The next day, according to her complaint, she was suspended without pay.

The Lawsuit & Claims

Kuenzle’s lawsuit is filed in Bergen County Superior Court against Englewood Health and Dr. Jung. It accuses them of violating several rights, including an employee’s right to ethical standards under medical codes and protections against retaliation.

She claims that her Christian faith was relevant to how she perceived the statements, and she asserts that the hospital’s action created a hostile work environment. The complaint seeks unspecified damages.

Kuenzle also alleges that after she spoke up, she was told by a union representative to look for another job. She contends that the hospital’s conduct amounts to unjust retaliation for doing what she felt was her professional and ethical obligation.

Hospital Response

Englewood Health has made a statement saying both the doctor and the nurse were suspended to allow for a “thorough and fair investigation,” citing their standard protocol.

The hospital claims that suspending the nurse does not equal firing her, and any suggestion that she was told to seek other employment was not an official stance from hospital leadership.

As of the last reports, it is unclear whether Dr. Jung has faced formal disciplinary action. The hospital has declined further detailed comment beyond confirming that the matter is under investigation.

Ethical and Legal Implications

The case raises serious ethical questions about workplace conduct in healthcare, especially about how health professionals conduct themselves publicly and privately—particularly in politically or emotionally charged matters.

Medical professionals are bound by oaths and ethics codes to provide care impartially, and for many, celebrating a patient or public figure’s death crosses a boundary of professional conduct.

Legally, the case hinges on whether speech by an employee (or in this case, a doctor) crosses into unlawful territory, especially when it takes place in a workplace with patients present, and whether retaliation by the employer is lawful.

Kuenzle’s lawsuit cites protections under New Jersey law—both in terms of discrimination and employee protections for reporting misconduct. How courts assess the interplay between free speech, employee duty, and patient rights could have implications beyond this case.

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