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Several healthcare workers at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, California, were fired after a TikTok video surfaced showing them mocking patients in an exam room. The video, originally posted by a former employee, depicted staff posing with patients' bodily fluids on exam tables, with captions like "Are patients allowed to leave you guys gifts?" and "Make sure you leave your healthcare workers sweet gifts like these." The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage online and prompting Sutter Health, which operates the clinic, to take swift action.
Sutter Health confirmed that all employees involved in the video were terminated, emphasizing that the behavior violated their policies and disrespected patients. The health system stated, "Protecting the trust of those we serve is our highest priority, and when that trust is violated, we take swift action."
The incident drew widespread condemnation on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram, where users criticized the workers for their unprofessional conduct. One commenter on Reddit remarked, "No place for shaming the patient in medicine," while another questioned the clinic's culture that allowed such behavior.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Sansum Clinic was notified of the video by concerned patients and conducted a review, placing the employees on administrative leave within 24 hours and terminating them shortly after. Sutter Health reiterated their commitment to patient privacy and dignity, using the incident to reinforce their policies with all team members.
The Santa Barbara Independent noted that the video gained traction over Labor Day weekend, leading to a wave of negative reviews on the clinic's Yelp page. Sutter Health stated that they are conducting a full investigation and that any staff associated with the content are on administrative leave pending the outcome.