Full Statement Released After California Clinic Staff Fired For Mocking Patients’ Bodily Fluids In ‘Dehumanizing’ TikTok
A group of urgent care employees in California has been fired after a TikTok video showed them mocking patient bodily fluids. The video was recorded inside a Sansum Clinic facility in Santa Barbara.
The now-deleted video featured staff posing next to stains on disposable exam table covers. Captions included phrases like “Guess the substance” and encouraged patients to leave “sweet gifts.”
Sansum Clinic, which partners with Sutter Health, confirmed all visible employees were terminated. A spokesperson stated they were “deeply concerned” and conducting a full review.
The video sparked widespread public outrage, particularly on local social media forums. Healthcare professionals expressed anger, calling the behavior an “utter violation” of medical ethics.
Healthcare ethicists emphasized that mocking patients breaches fundamental trust and professionalism. Even without identifying patients, such actions degrade dignity and damage institutional reputation.
This incident highlights growing concerns about social media misuse in healthcare settings. Experts are calling for stronger digital conduct policies and education for medical staff.
The original video has been removed and the user’s account set to private. However, screen recordings continue to circulate online, prolonging the controversy and community disappointment.
