Full Statement Released After California Clinic Staff Fired For Mocking Patients’ Bodily Fluids In ‘Dehumanizing’ TikTok

A shocking TikTok video recorded inside Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California, has gone viral, showing staff mocking patients’ bodily fluids left on exam tables. The footage, described by viewers as “dehumanizing” and “beyond unprofessional,” ignited widespread outrage online and threatens the clinic’s long-standing reputation.

The clips, now deleted, featured employees posing beside stained exam tables with captions like “Guess the substance” and “All shapes and sizes.” One video showed staff giving thumbs-up gestures over marks left by patients, while another warned viewers to “leave your healthcare workers sweet gifts like these!” Originally uploaded by TikTok user @angieuncut, the account has since gone private, but recordings quickly spread across Reddit and other social media platforms, drawing thousands of comments from shocked viewers.

This is not the first time TikTok has clashed with the medical field. In recent years, hospital staff nationwide have faced discipline for posting videos joking about patients, dancing in operating rooms, or mocking pregnancy symptoms. Experts warn that healthcare workers chasing viral fame risk their licenses, reputations, and the dignity of the patients they serve.

In response to the Santa Barbara scandal, Sutter Health, which partners with Sansum Clinic, confirmed that all current employees seen in the videos have been fired. A spokesperson told KTLA, “We are deeply concerned about a disrespectful social media post,” while the clinic itself issued an apology on Instagram, emphasizing that “patient trust and dignity are always our top priority.” The original uploader had reportedly not worked at the facility for several months, but any current staff involved were promptly dismissed.

Community backlash has been intense. On Reddit, locals demanded accountability, with healthcare workers calling the videos unethical and others pledging to report the incident to authorities. Legal experts note that patients may have grounds for lawsuits, while regulatory boards could intervene, potentially impacting the staff’s professional licenses.

The scandal has reignited conversations about social media policies in healthcare. Sutter Health is conducting a full review of the incident and evaluating new safeguards to prevent similar breaches. For now, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly digital content can damage trust, with Santa Barbara patients left stunned and questioning how their confidence in their caregivers could be so easily betrayed.