Santa Barbara clinic staff fired over viral TikTok mocking patients

California healthcare workers at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara were fired after a viral TikTok mocking patients.

A group of healthcare workers in California have been dismissed after a TikTok video showing them apparently mocking bodily fluid stains on exam tables went viral. The video, captioned “Guess the substance,” was filmed at the Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara and widely circulated before being deleted, KTLA reported.

The clip featured employees posing next to what appeared to be bodily fluids left by patients. Text in the video read, “Are patients allowed to leave you guys gifts?” followed by images of smiling staff. In one frame, a worker gave a thumbs-up beside a stain with the caption “yes!” Another image read, “And we love them so much,” while further shots described the so-called “gifts” as coming in “all shapes and sizes” and “all shades and opacities.” The video concluded with a group of staff gathered around an exam table, captioned: “Make sure to leave your healthcare workers sweet gifts like these!”

Outrage spread quickly online as screen recordings circulated. On Reddit’s r/Santabarbara page, users condemned the incident as “beyond unprofessional” and “unethical.” One commenter wrote, “This team is going to rue the day they posted this dehumanizing garbage.” Others argued that those involved should lose their medical licenses, saying that being fired was not enough.

Sutter Health, which operates Sansum Clinic, confirmed the employees were terminated for what it described as “inappropriate and insensitive” behavior that violated company policies. In a statement, the organization emphasized that the actions showed “a lack of respect for our patients and will not be tolerated.” Sutter also clarified that the individual who originally posted the TikTok had not worked at the facility for two months.

Patients who believe their privacy or dignity was violated have been directed to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights.