Plastic surgeon who livestreamed procedures on TikTok banned from practicing medicine in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio: In a shocking revelation, an Ohio plastic surgeon has had her state medical license permanently revoked after a medical board found that she caused harm to patients by livestreaming their surgeries on the popular social media app TikTok. The Ohio Medical Board has taken the decision to ban Katharine Grawe, widely known as Dr. Roxy in her plastic surgery practice “Roxy Plastic Surgery,” from ever practicing again in the state. This move comes after Grawe had her license suspended back in November for the same reason.

The board discovered that, while conducting surgeries, Grawe neglected her patients by choosing to livestream parts of the procedures, speaking into the camera, and even answering questions from viewers. This unethical behavior during surgeries led to the board’s unanimous decision. Despite attempts to reach out for comment, neither Grawe nor her legal team responded to the messages received on Wednesday. At present, Grawe’s TikTok account is set to private.

It’s worth noting that the board had already expressed concerns about Grawe’s actions as early as 2018, emphasizing the potential violation of patient privacy and ethical standards, according to a suspension notice issued by the board. With this background, it becomes evident that Grawe’s recent actions on TikTok were not isolated incidents.

The severity of the situation and the impact on patients is also exemplified in the case of one patient, who won a lawsuit against Grawe for a botched breast-reconstruction surgery. Mary Jenkins, the former patient, appeared emotional when speaking to reporters after the Ohio Medical Board officially revoked Grawe’s medical license on July 12, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. This incident sheds light on the harm caused to patients who placed their trust in Grawe’s hands.

Aside from Jenkins’ case, three other patients of Grawe experienced severe complications that required intensive medical care as a result of her surgeries. In one instance, a patient discovered a perforated intestine a week after the procedure, which Grawe had partially livestreamed on TikTok. The patient suffered extensive damage to their abdomen, along with bacterial infections and even loss of brain function due to the toxins present in their bloodstream.