Ohio Plastic Surgeon “Dr. Roxy” Has Medical License Revoked for Livestreaming Operations on TikTok
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Dr. Katherine Roxanne Grawe, known to her online followers and patients as “Dr. Roxy,” had her state medical license permanently revoked on Wednesday by the State Medical Board of Ohio. The decision came after three of her patients reported complications following their surgeries and evidence that she had livestreamed some of her operations on TikTok.
According to Jerica Stewart, spokesperson for the State Medical Board of Ohio, Dr. Roxy, also known as Dr. Katharine Roxanne Grawe, will “no longer be able to practice medicine in the state of Ohio.” In addition to revoking her license, the board also imposed a fine of $4,500.
The board had initially suspended Dr. Roxy’s license in November after reprimanding her twice. They cited concerns over patient privacy, lack of informed consent, ethical concerns related to social media, and avoidable complications that required surgical revision.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Dr. Roxy addressed the board members and acknowledged that she had “fallen below the board’s ideal in multiple ways.” She explained that her intention behind making social media videos was to educate and inform people about cosmetic surgery, but she now sees how some of those videos appeared “silly and unprofessional.”
In a letter dated October 9, 2018, the board had cautioned Dr. Roxy about maintaining patient privacy when sharing photos or videos of medical procedures on social media. However, the board sent her another letter dated September 28, 2021, outlining additional concerns and issues with her care of patients.
During her testimony, Dr. Roxy claimed that she interacted with TikTok users who posted questions during the surgeries, and she saw her videos as a way to educate people about surgical procedures. She also mentioned that someone else in the room would record and read the questions while livestreaming, and she would respond.
Dr. Roxy had performed surgeries on approximately 5,500 patients in the last five years, with two to five surgeries per day. Her practice primarily focused on procedures such as breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, thigh lifts, arm lifts, and Brazilian butt lifts.
Dr. Roxy obtained her medical degree in 2005 from the University of Texas Medical Branch and was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 2014.
CNN reached out to an attorney representing Dr. Roxy for comment but has not received a response.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining patient privacy and ensuring proper informed consent when it comes to sharing medical procedures on social media platforms.