Several urgent care workers in Santa Barbara have been fired after a TikTok taken inside medical exam rooms went viral over Labor Day weekend, officials confirmed to KTLA.
The post shows a compilation of photos where Sansum Clinic workers are joking and posing with patients’ bodily fluids left on exam tables.
Text over one of the first images reads, “Are patients allowed to leave you guys gifts?” followed by slides showing staff laughing, pointing, and even posing playfully around the stains with the caption: “guess the substance!” In another frame, the on-screen words say “all shades and opacities.”
In the last frame of the post, the text on top of a group photo around a stain reads, “make sure to leave your healthcare workers sweet gifts like these!”
Sutter Health, which Sansum Clinic is a part of, told KTLA that the video was posted to TikTok over Labor Day weekend by a former employee who left the organization in late July.
“We are deeply concerned about a disrespectful social media post made on a personal account by a former employee, and we are conducting a full review in line with our policies,” said a Sutter Health spokesperson, later clarifying that the individual who posted the TikTok was not employed with Sutter at the time.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the spokesperson said all the staffers involved in the video had been fired.
After the TikTok post took off, it was quickly deleted — but not before the internet “did its thing.” Screen recordings, downloads and stitches with the video continue to circulate online, with many offering their own interpretations. The clip also drew swift backlash on Reddit, Instagram and Yelp, where hundreds of users called the behavior “dehumanizing,” “unprofessional” and “unethical.”
Some social media users claimed that the photos were taken at an OB/GYN clinic. The Sutter Health spokesperson refuted these claims and clarified that the photographs were taken at Sansum’s urgent care clinic on Pesetas Lane in Santa Barbara.
“The trust and dignity of our patients always remain our top priority,” stated Sutter Health. “The post goes against the values, professionalism and respect we expect from all staff. We have strict policies to protect patient privacy and dignity, and any behavior that disrespects those standards is unacceptable.”
The organization shared that any Sutter Health patients who might like to discuss their health care experience can email [email protected].
Patients who believe their privacy or dignity was violated either within or outside of the Sutter Health network can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint.
If you or someone you know feels distressed or overwhelmed by this issue, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free and confidential support.
The post California urgent care staffers fired for TikTok mocking patients appeared first on KTLA.
