Plastic Surgeon Lost License After Streaming ‘Botched’ Surgeries On TikTok

The field of cosmetic surgery, while often associated with vanity and the pursuit of physical perfection, has a darker side that is not as frequently discussed. A case in point is the recent incident involving an Ohio-based plastic surgeon, Dr. Katharine Grawe, also known as Dr. Roxy. She was permanently barred from practicing medicine in the state due to her unethical conduct, which included live-streaming surgeries on the social media platform, TikTok.

Dr. Grawe, who ran a practice named ‘Roxy Plastic Surgery’, was known to her numerous TikTok followers as Dr. Roxy. The Ohio Medical Board, however, decided to revoke her medical license permanently after she was found to be neglecting her patients while live-streaming their surgeries. This was not only a violation of medical ethics but also a breach of patient privacy. Despite being warned by the medical board in 2018, Dr. Grawe continued her unethical practices.

The repercussions of her actions were severe. At least three patients under her care suffered serious complications. One of these cases involved a woman whose intestine was accidentally perforated during a surgery that Dr. Grawe was live-streaming. This led to a blood infection and subsequent complications, resulting in brain damage for the patient. In addition to losing her license, Dr. Grawe was also fined $4,500 by the board.

This incident is not an isolated one. The cosmetic surgery industry has seen a rise in such cases. According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were over 1.8 million cosmetic surgical procedures performed in the United States in 2020 alone. However, the number of botched surgeries is also on the rise. A study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that the complication rate for cosmetic surgery is around 5%, with severe complications occurring in 1% of cases.

Moreover, the rise of social media has led to an increase in the number of unqualified individuals offering cosmetic procedures. A report by the American Medical Association found that nearly 60% of plastic surgeons have seen patients with complications from procedures performed by unqualified individuals. This has led to a call for stricter regulations and oversight in the industry.

In addition to the ethical issues, there are also legal implications. For instance, a doctor in Missouri was sentenced to prison for fraud after purchasing unapproved, low-cost drugs from overseas for osteoarthritis injections. He then billed the full price for these drugs and used the difference to fund his extravagant lifestyle. In another case, a man operating an illegal, unlicensed dental clinic in Dearborn, Michigan, was charged with shooting a patient who threatened to report him.

These incidents highlight the need for increased vigilance and regulation in the field of cosmetic surgery. Patients seeking such procedures should thoroughly research their chosen practitioner’s qualifications and track record. Furthermore, medical boards and regulatory bodies must take swift action against those who violate medical ethics and patient trust. The pursuit of beauty should not come at the cost of one’s health and safety.