Healthcare Workers Firedโ After Disrespectfulโฃ TikTok Video Surfaces
Several healthcare workers in Santa Barbara have been terminated following the circulation of a TikTok video appearing to mock patients’ bodily fluids. The video, originally postedโ by an individual no longer employed by Sansum Clinic, a sutter Health-owned outpatient facility, depictedโ eight individuals pointing and smiling at a substance on an exam table.
The post includedโ captions such as “Are patients allowed to leave you guys gifts?” and “Makeโฃ sure you leave yourโ healthcare workers sweet gifts like these!” โฃwith a prompt asking viewers to “Guess the substance!” The videoโ quickly gained traction across multiple social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit, prompting widespread โoutrage.
Commenters expressed โคstrong disapproval, questioning โฃthe clinicS culture and the employees’ ethical conduct. One Reddit user wrote, “No place for shaming the patient in medicine,”โ while an Instagram user asked, “What โis the cultureโฃ of your โclinic โคbecause why did thisโฃ many employeesโ feel cozy participating in this?”
Sansum Clinic โofficials were alerted โขto the video by concerned patients and launched an immediate inquiry. According to a statement released by theโ clinic, all employeesโ identified in theโฃ video who were still employed at the time were placed โขon administrative leave within 24 hours. Within another 24 hours, theirโข employment was terminated.
“this unacceptable behavior is an outright violation of our policies, shows a lack of respect for our patients and will โฃnot be tolerated,” aโฃ Sutter Health spokesperson stated.
Even though the originalโฃ video was deleted shortly after the backlash began, it was widelyโ reposted and shared through “stitches” – reactions and additions made by other TikTok โขusers. A Sansum Clinic spokesperson emphasized the institution’s commitment to patient privacyโข and dignity, stating, “we expect all team members to live our patients-first mission and uphold the highest standards of compassion, professionalism and respect.”โ The clinic is using โคthe incident to reinforce its policies withโ all staff.