Portsmouth plastic surgeon suspended after report of wrong site surgery, numerous errors

Ian Lenahan, Portsmouth Herald
·3 min read

PORTSMOUTH — A longtime local plastic surgeon's license has been suspended after an investigation found he recently performed wrong site surgery on a patient, as well as "at least" 15-20 other surgical errors since 2021 that required correcting by other surgeons.

Dr. Lawrence Gray, the founder and medical director of Atlantic Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa in Portsmouth, received the emergency license suspension July 21, ordered by the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s Board of Medicine.

A complaint filed July 17 by two patients alleges Gray “had caused two of his patients to suffer unnecessary complications following surgical procedures he performed on them and had otherwise demonstrated incompetence to practice,” according to the Board of Medicine's order.

The state's Office of Professional Licensure and Certification has suspended the license of Portsmouth plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Gray after an investigation found that he recently performed a wrong site surgery on a patient and has been responsible for numerous surgical errors dating back to 2021, among other findings. Gray is the founder and medical director of Atlantic Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa in Portsmouth, which he opened in 1985.

“Using its combined training and experience, the Board concludes that the Licensee’s conduct, on its face, poses an imminent danger to the public health, safety, or welfare while licensed as a New Hampshire physician,” the order states.

Wrong site surgery encompasses surgery performed on the wrong side or site of the body, the wrong surgical procedure performed, and surgery performed on the wrong patient, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Investigation found Gray worked with 'shaking hands' multiple times

The two patients who filed the complaint were interviewed as part of the investigation, the Board of Medicine's emergency order states, as was an Atlantic Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa surgeon, who had practiced under Gray since 2021.

The suspension listed six primary findings of the investigation:

“The central facts are straightforward — since at least 2021 the Licensee (Gray): 1.) has performed at least 15-20 surgical errors that needed to be corrected by another physician; 2.) had at least two patients that suffered serious complications from his work; 3.) provided incorrect instructions for surgeries to patients and staff; 4.) performed his work duties with shaking hands on multiple occasions, including at least one surgery; 5.) has incorrectly site marked multiple patients; and 6.) recently performed a wrong site surgery on a patient,” the suspension order notes.

Gray's suspension was issued after the Board of Medicine received a verified petition from Office of Professional Licensure and Certification investigators Eric Goulet and Victoria Davies.

Gray has decades of experience practicing in Portsmouth

Atlantic Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa was founded by Gray in 1985, according to its website. The practice conducts cosmetic, reconstructive and plastic surgery, including but not limited to breast augmentation surgery, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty, facelifts, laser hair removal, liposuction and lip lifts.

A representative of Atlantic Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa declined to comment when contacted on Monday. Attempts to contact Gray were not successful. The practice's website states Gray is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has completed numerous humanitarian trips to other countries as well as being active in the local community.

More local news: Driver indicted for Portsmouth Thanksgiving crash that took Drew Ceppetelli's life at 21

What happens next in Gray's license suspension process

Suspended license holders are usually given hearings within 10 days of the revocation, said Jessica Kallipolites, director of the division of enforcement for the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

The hearings are held to ensure due process for the suspended licensees, as they were not present for the decision to suspend their license. Gray’s hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 2 at 1 p.m. in Concord.

“This hearing is to determine whether the emergency suspension should remain in place during the pendency of the investigation,” Kallipolites said. “This is separate and different from any final adjudicatory hearing which may occur later at the conclusion of an investigation.”

An adjudicatory hearing may occur, she added, or the case could be settled or dismissed entirely.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Gray's license suspended