Karen McGonigal’s Story and the Dangers of Illegal Weight-Loss Injections
The recent death of Karen McGonigal, a 53-year-old mother from Greater Manchester, has brought another deeply troubling case into the spotlight. Karen died just days after receiving an unlicensed dose of semaglutide, administered not by a healthcare professional but by a local beautician offering injections for £20. Her story is heartbreaking, and it exposes yet again how dangerous the UK’s unregulated aesthetic landscape has become.
As an aesthetic expert witness, I see the same themes appear time and time again: medicines supplied illegally, treatments carried out in inappropriate settings, and vulnerable individuals placed at risk by people who are simply not trained or qualified to administer prescription-only drugs. Karen’s case is another example of what happens when regulation fails and when the desire for quick results meets a black market that is more than willing to exploit it.
Karen was struggling with her mental health and searching for a solution that would help her regain confidence. She had explored legitimate avenues through her GP, but when she couldn’t access medication through the NHS, she turned to what she believed was Mounjaro offered at her local salon. What she actually received was semaglutide, a completely different drug with its own dosing requirements. This error alone would raise concern in any clinical setting, but in this case, it was coupled with poor hygiene, no assessment, no medical supervision, and no understanding of the risks involved.
Her sudden deterioration - severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and rapid decline into critical illness - shows the seriousness of administering prescription-only medicines without proper oversight. It is a reminder that medications designed to alter metabolic function, appetite, or blood sugar regulation are not harmless cosmetic treatments: they are potent drugs that require medical judgement, screening and monitoring.
Karen’s family believe the illegal injections were responsible for her death. While the full findings are still pending, the issues surrounding her case are clear. Non-medics are selling and injecting powerful drugs with no training, no prescribing rights, and no understanding of adverse effects or complications. There is no consent process, no safeguarding, no follow-up, and absolutely no ability to manage an emergency.
This case also highlights a cultural problem. The huge demand for rapid weight-loss treatments has created a thriving unregulated market. People are purchasing prescription-only medicines from salons, social media sellers and WhatsApp groups. There is little awareness of the legal implications for those supplying these drugs, and even less awareness of the medical risks faced by those receiving them.
For the families left behind, the impact is devastating. Karen’s daughters have spoken openly because they hope their mother’s story prevents another tragedy. Their courage deserves recognition, and their message is simple: the cheaper, faster option is not worth your life.
From a regulatory standpoint, this case should serve as yet another catalyst for change. The public needs clear guidance on who is legally permitted to administer prescription medicines, and practitioners who cross these boundaries must be held accountable. As expert witnesses, we often see cases only after harm has occurred. The goal, always, is that our evidence helps to create safer practices and prevent even more loss.