Docs who destroyed their careers via social media
Key Takeaways
Social media can help healthcare professionals share knowledge and grow their careers, but it also poses risks of ethical breaches.
Some doctors have made serious mistakes on social platforms, including violating patient privacy and engaging in professional misconduct and prejudiced behavior.
Doctors’ social media mistakes have led to severe consequences, including losing medical licenses, facing lawsuits, and damaging their professional reputations.
Developing a social media presence is no longer optional for most HPCs—it's almost a requirement. Doctors are increasingly sharing knowledge, busting health misinformation, and building their brands on TikTok, Instagram, X, and other platforms. A quick search for #DocTok on TikTok will give you over 284 million posts (and counting).
But it’s not just about getting likes and followers; it's a gateway to new patients, professional collaborations, and invaluable networking opportunities. For many, this digital space has been a goldmine… for some, a minefield.
Professional misconduct
According to a US study, the most common online professionalism violations by physicians include inappropriate patient communication, misrepresenting credentials, inadvertent prescribing, and sexual misconduct.[]
When a doctor becomes famous online, their behavior, even outside the digital sphere, can shape their professional image, which brings us to Dr. Jason Campbell—also known as the “TikTok Doc.”
The "TikTok Doc"
Dr. Campbell gained fame for his dance videos during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. While he was initially praised for bringing positivity during a challenging time, Dr. Campbell’s career took a nosedive after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. In 2021, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where Dr. Campbell was a resident, agreed to a $585,000 settlement with a plaintiff who accused him of sexual harassment.[]
Patient confidentiality breaches
Social media offers doctors an unparalleled platform to engage and share knowledge but also opens the door to serious ethical breaches. Sharing patient cases without consent is not only unethical but also violates privacy laws. Even with consent, the long-term implications of publicly shared medical stories should be carefully considered. Take, for example, the case of Dr. Katharine Roxanne Grawe.
Dr. Roxy
Dr. Grawe, known online as "Dr. Roxy," lost her medical license in Ohio in July 2023 after the State Medical Board of Ohio found she had harmed patients while livestreaming surgeries on TikTok.[]
According to USA Today, the board cited Dr. Grawe's negligence in patient care, highlighting her habit of filming and answering viewer questions during procedures.[] They described her actions as reckless, stating she prioritized social media engagement over patient safety.
Allegedly, despite previous warnings over at least 4 years about maintaining patient privacy, she continued sharing content online, claiming that it reduced the perceived distance between patients and doctors. However, she later admitted, “I see how many of those silly videos seemed unprofessional."
The consequences were severe: At least three patients suffered significant complications after surgeries at her practice. According to the Independent, 12 lawsuits were pending against her by the time her license was revoked.[]
The not-so-personal opinions
A 2024 study found that physicians often struggle to separate their professional and personal lives online.[] In these situations, one wrong move can destroy a reputation built over decades—and even cost you your license.
The high standard of conduct for doctors extends beyond the workplace and into personal life. The public expects doctors to be role models, and any hint of inappropriate behavior—whether online or offline—can erode trust and have lasting consequences.
Dr. Lara Kollab
Dr. Lara Kollab is a former Cleveland Clinic resident whose career ended abruptly after her anti-Semitic tweets from years earlier resurfaced.[] These tweets included violent language and a statement that she might intentionally provide incorrect medication to Jewish patients. As a result, Dr. Kollab was permanently barred from practicing osteopathic medicine or surgery in Ohio and from participating in any further medical training programs.
Misinformation and imposters
The internet is teeming with misinformation, making it hard to distinguish legitimate healthcare providers from impostors. A 2024 survey found that 56% of Gen Z uses TikTok as a primary source for wellness and diet advice, with one-third relying on it more than professional healthcare guidance.[] Alarmingly, 1 in 3 survey respondents indicated that they don’t verify the medical information they find online. However, only 1 in 11 users said they had experienced negative health outcomes as a result—though it may only be a matter of time until those numbers grow.
Dalya Karezi
Social media's lack of oversight has led to a rise in unqualified "health experts."
One striking example is Dalya Karezi, an Australian woman with a wildly popular digital presence on TikTok and Instagram, who was providing unqualified medical advice to hundreds of thousands of followers on serious conditions like cancers, HIV, and fertility—all while pretending to be a licensed doctor.
According to news eports, in October 2023, Karezi pleaded guilty to pretending to be a "medical specialist" and impersonating a doctor. She was sentenced to a 2-year community corrections order at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court and fined $8,400.[]
While the cases mentioned above represent extreme instances of negligence—that most HCPs, with their years of training, are unlikely to commit—they serve as cautionary tales. Authorities like the American Medical Association (AMA), Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) have established guidelines on social media use to uphold professionalism, but there is still a lot of grey area.
Best practices for HCPs
To safeguard your own professional credentials, try to keep your personal and professional lives separate. If your personal accounts are public, manage content carefully and maximize privacy settings. Avoid posting anything you wouldn’t want patients or colleagues to see.
Never share patient details without explicit consent. Even de-identified information can have long-term implications. When unsure, consult HIPAA guidelines or seek legal advice before posting.
Use social media only to share evidence-based content and enhance health literacy. Always disclose conflicts of interest or affiliations to maintain trust.
Be cautious about connecting with patients online; it can blur boundaries and expose personal information. While accepting online friend requests is a personal choice, always weigh the risks.
Social media is not a platform for telemedicine. Posts should not replace personalized, evidence-based advice that requires proper examinations and peer-reviewed data.
What this means for you
Your social media content is not just a brand-building exercise—it has real-world consequences. Remember that in a public-facing profession, even personal opinions can be interpreted as professional statements, requiring careful vigilance. To make the most of these platforms while protecting your reputation and patient trust, focus on sharing credible, evidence-based content. Keep personal and professional boundaries clear, and always prioritize patient confidentiality.