Viral Video Sparks Investigation at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA - September 2, 2025

A social media post purportedly filmed inside a Sansum Clinic location in Santa Barbara over Labor Day weekend has ignited community outrage and prompted an internal investigation at the nonprofit outpatient provider.

The video, which went viral after it was shared on TikTok and subsequently circulated on Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit, shows several individuals-later identified as former clinic staff-posing beside an exam table stained with bodily fluids. Overlay text in the clip refers to the stains as “sweet gifts” and mocks their various “shapes and sizes.” Screenshots and recordings continue to circulate despite the original post’s deletion.

Locals expressed disgust at the footage, citing concerns over patient privacy and the erosion of professional standards in a healthcare setting. Commenters on Reddit speculated the video was shot at the Sutter Health-operated Pesetas Urgent Care in Santa Barbara, though Sutter has not independently confirmed the exact location.

In response, a Sutter Health spokesperson issued a statement emphasizing that the individual who posted the video was no longer employed by the clinic at the time of upload and that all staff depicted are under review. “The trust and dignity of our patients always remain our top priority,” the statement read. “We are deeply concerned about a disrespectful social media post made on a personal account by a former employee and we are conducting a full review in line with our policies. Any behavior that disrespects those standards is unacceptable.”

Sansum Clinic leadership has also reaffirmed its commitment to patient privacy and professional conduct. The incident has prompted a review of staff training, social media guidelines, and patient confidentiality protocols to prevent future breaches.

Local healthcare advocates and patient safety groups have called for transparency in the investigation’s findings and reiterated the importance of safeguarding patient dignity in all clinical environments. Sansum Clinic has pledged to share outcomes once the review is complete.