Pediatrician Fired After Viral Social Media Post About Texas: A Story of Online Healthcare Misconduct
Flash flooding recently devastated central Texas, killing over 100 people, many of them children and counselors at a local summer camp. While families mourned and communities rallied to recover, a Houston pediatrician posted something that shocked the internet.
On her personal Facebook page, Dr. Christina Propst posted the following:
“May all visitors, children, non-MAGA voters and pets be safe and dry. Kerr County MAGA voted to gut FEMA. They deny climate change. May they get what they voted for. Bless their hearts.”
The Fallout Was Immediate
The post went viral within hours, picked up by high-profile influencers, and seen by millions. It didn’t take long for people to figure out Dr. Propst was a pediatrician who worked at Blue Fish Pediatrics.
After getting tagged in hundreds of posts, the clinic took swift action. First, they suspended the doctor, then they confirmed her termination in a public statement:
“We were made aware of a social media comment from one of our physicians. The individual is no longer employed by Blue Fish Pediatrics…. We strongly condemn the comments that were made in that post. That post does not reflect the values, standards or mission of Blue Fish Pediatrics….”
Shortly after, the doctor’s professional profiles were removed from affiliated healthcare systems.
Two days later, Dr. Propst shared a public apology, including:
“I speak to you as a mother, a neighbor, a pediatrician, and a human being who is deeply sorry. I take full responsibility for a social media comment I made before we knew that so many precious lives were lost to the terrible tragedy in Central Texas. I understand my comment caused immense pain to those suffering indescribable grief and for that I am truly sorry. I would like to make clear that my regrettable comment was in no way a response to the tragic loss of human life. But the words written were mine and regardless of how they are being presented, that is a fact that I deeply regret….”
A Warning About Social Media Misconduct in Healthcare
People often reveal their worst instincts online, including healthcare professionals like Dr. Propst. When that behavior surfaces, employers are left in crisis mode. Had social media screening been part of the hiring process, this post, or similar ones, could have been flagged before trust was broken and reputations were damaged.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. In today’s digital age, online misconduct is on the rise, increasing by 50% in 2024. According to Fama’s 2024 State of Misconduct at Work report:
- 1 in 20 candidates had misconduct online that went undetected during hiring.
- Online threats increased by 180% year-over-year.
- And most notably, individuals flagged for one incident of misconduct had an average of 18 more.
This wasn’t just a bad moment. It’s part of a growing trend that’s putting people, organizations, and brands at risk.
The Risk of Ignoring Red Flags
Social media reveals sides of people that resumes, interviews, and standard background checks simply can’t provide. In high-trust roles, especially those involving vulnerable populations like children, compassion and empathy aren’t optional. They’re foundational.
And when someone posts content that mocks death, disrespects victims, or spreads hate, it’s not controversial. It’s a liability.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen this story play out before:
- Executives exposed for offensive content, after it damages the brand.
- Employees caught on video using hate speech, costing companies millions in lost trust.
- Workplace tragedies that could’ve been prevented if online warning signs had been flagged earlier.
In nearly all cases, the signs were there. Publicly posted. Easy to find. And missed entirely during the hiring process.
How Social Media Screening Can Help
Social media screening helps employers identify job-relevant misconduct before it becomes a crisis. It provides visibility into a candidate’s public digital footprint, empowering hiring teams with insight to effectively evaluate how someone might act on the job, not just how they present in an interview.
Social media background checks like Fama scan over 10,000 public sources as well as platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube to detect:
- Violence or threats
- Hate speech and discriminatory behavior
- Harassment or bullying
- Sexual misconduct
- Fraud or illegal activity
Unlike a basic search or manual review, Fama uses AI to automate screening and humans review each report, ensuring accurate, compliant results that align with FCRA, EEOC, and global privacy standards.
What Employers Can Do
Social media content impacts the workplace. And more employers are looking for proactive ways to screen for risk, before misconduct becomes a headline. If you’re an HR or talent leader, here’s where to start:
- Social Media Background Check: Incorporate social media screening into your hiring process, especially for high-trust and public-facing roles.
- Use a Trusted Partner: Work with a compliant third-party provider. Manual, DIY screening creates legal and ethical risk.
- Screen for Job-Relevant Behavior: Focus on job and workplace-relevant behaviors like violence, threats, hate, and harassment, not personal views.
- Regularly Screen and Rescreen Employees: Misconduct doesn’t end after hiring. Conduct rescreens regularly as well as during promotions, investigations, or high-visibility moments.
The Bottom Line
Dr. Propst’s story is tragic, both for the families affected by the floods and for the children she once treated. But it was also preventable.
Online behavior doesn’t stay online. It walks into your hospitals, classrooms, offices, and boardrooms. And without visibility into that behavior, you’re flying blind.
Social media screening helps you protect your people and organization, mitigating the risk that the next viral scandal is about you.
Let’s make better hires and build safer workplaces, request a demo with Fama.
