Ohio Bans Plastic Surgeon Who Livestreamed Botched Procedures on TikTok
The Ohio Medical Board permanently revoked the state medical license of plastic surgeon Katharine Grawe, also known as Dr. Roxy, Wednesday, AP reports.
This decision was made after the board determined that the Ohio plastic surgeon harmed patients by live streaming their surgeries on the social media platform TikTok.
The board concluded that Grawe neglected her patients as she performed live streaming during their procedures.
This involved speaking to a camera and answering viewers' questions while the surgeries were performed, compromising patient care and safety.
Katharine Grawe, who operated under the practice name "Roxy Plastic Surgery" and had a significant following on TikTok, initially suspended her license in November.
The recent decision by the Ohio Medical Board ensures that she can never practice medicine again in the state.
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Ohio Plastic Surgeon Appeals Her License Revocation
During the board hearing, Dr. Roxy pleaded with the members to approach the accusations against her with an open mind. She acknowledged that the discipline she had already faced was more severe than she had anticipated, according to USA TODAY.
She also expressed the negative impact the accusations had on her personal life, sharing that her children faced harassment at school and her husband left her.
The disgraced Ohio plastic surgeon explained that her intention in using social media was to create a more approachable and friendly atmosphere between patients and medical practitioners.
However, she now realizes that her actions fell short of the medical board's standards and ideals.
She acknowledged that many of her social media videos may have seemed unprofessional and that her actions appeared careless and offended her patients and colleagues.
Dr. Roxy expressed her understanding of the concerns raised by the board and the need for accountability in her actions.
Ohio Plastic Surgeon Receives Warning in 2018
According to a previous board suspension notice, the Ohio Medical Board had warned Katharine Grawe about her actions as early as 2018, raising concerns about patient privacy and potential ethics violations.
The notice also highlighted severe complications experienced by three of Dr. Roxy's patients who required intensive medical care following their surgeries, per CBS News.
In one instance, Grawe partially livestreamed a procedure on TikTok, and a week later, the patient was found to have a perforated intestine.
This resulted in severe abdominal damage, bacterial infections, and loss of brain function due to toxins in the blood.
During the board meeting, a former patient named Mary Jenkins, who sought surgery from Dr. Roxy, expressed relief at the board's decision.
Jenkins had sought breast reconstructive surgery, hoping that a flap from her abdomen could be removed by the procedure.
However, complications arose, and the flap became congested with blood, necessitating its removal two days later. This left Jenkins with a significant wound in her chest.
Jenkins faced a lengthy recovery process, spending four months in a nursing home to recuperate.
She filed a lawsuit against Dr. Roxy in 2013, and the court ruled in Jenkins' favor. Grawe was ordered to pay Jenkins a sum of $308,620.74, as indicated by a court order, ARS TECHNICA noted.
Dr. Roxy's attempt to appeal the negligence claims made by Jenkins was unsuccessful.
She described the Ohio plastic surgeon's license revocation as closing a chapter in her life but said she would never forget the experience.
While the Ohio Medical Board's actions affect a doctor's ability to practice within the state, disciplinary actions are reported to the National Practitioner Databank and made available online.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: TikTok Plastic Surgeon 'Dr. Roxy' Loses Medical License - From Inside Edition
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