An Ohio plastic surgeon has been permanently banned from practicing medicine in the state after livestreaming surgeries on the popular social media platform TikTok, resulting in alleged harm to her patients.
Two men chat next to the computer screen of a booth displaying a 3D software solution at the Aesthetic science, plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology Congress (IMCAS) in Paris on February 1, 2018.
'Roxy Plastic Surgery'
According to Associated Press, the Ohio Medical Board decided to revoke Katharine Grawe's state medical license, which effectively prohibited her from ever practicing medicine in Ohio again. Grawe, also known as Dr. Roxy in her plastic surgery practice "Roxy Plastic Surgery," had her license initially suspended in November.
According to the board's findings, Grawe neglected her patients by engaging in livestreams during their surgical procedures. She would livestream various parts of the surgeries while simultaneously addressing viewer questions and speaking into the camera.
As of writing, Grawe's TikTok account is currently inaccessible to the public, and her team has yet to release a statement regarding the board's decision.
The medical board had previously issued warnings to Grawe in 2018, expressing concerns about patient privacy and potential ethical violations. These concerns were highlighted in a prior suspension notice issued by the board.
The notice also revealed that three of Grawe's patients experienced severe complications, requiring extensive medical care following their surgeries.
In one reported instance, a patient's intestine was discovered to be perforated a week after the surgery, which was partially livestreamed on TikTok by Grawe.
The patient reportedly suffered significant damage to her abdomen, bacterial infections, and even experienced a loss of brain function due to toxins in her blood.
Neglect of Patient Care
Between 2018 and 2022, Grawe reportedly garnered a substantial following on TikTok, with thousands of viewers tuning in to watch parts of surgical procedures.
The medical board argued that Grawe's focus on her social media presence led to neglect of patient care, as she would frequently address the camera and respond to viewer questions while performing surgeries.
A state lawyer advocating for the license suspension emphasized that the case was not about antiquated views of social media but rather the trust patients placed in Dr. Roxy based on her social media presence, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
The lawyer noted that Grawe made major surgeries, which could potentially have life-altering complications.
Grawe defended her use of social media to the board, saying that she intended to break down the perceived barrier between doctors and patients. However, she admitted that some of her videos appeared unprofessional and lacked seriousness.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Grawe claimed that the accusations against her had caused the breakdown of her marriage and that her children had faced attacks at school.
But despite Grawe's personal circumstances, the Ohio Medical Board concluded that she is no longer permitted to practice medicine in Ohio.
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