JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A social media post that shows a young girl inside in a Jacksonville medical center licking a tongue depressor and then placing it back into a jar has gone viral.
The video was recorded in an exam room at the All About Kids and Families Medical Center. The medical office told News4Jax it's troubled by the video. A statement from the office said it has contacted police to request a full investigation.
The girl's mother said she recorded the video and posted it to her Snapchat account. She said one of her followers pulled up the video while someone else recorded video of the screen and that person posted the video to the Only in Duval Facebook page.
The viral video shows an adult fiddling through a jar of tongue depressors. The girl then reaches inside and takes one.
She then licks the depressor and places it back inside.
Since the video went viral, the mother said she's started receiving death threats. She asked not to be identified.
News4Jax asked why she recorded it. She responded, "I had just been waiting a long time. I was just being silly with my kids."
Her soon-to-be-ex-husband said he was horrified when he realized the girl in the video was his daughter.
"My mouth hit the floor. I was completely surprised and shocked that she would even put something like that out there to be seen," the father said. "I'm very embarrassed. That is not how I want my children raised or brought up."
News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said police will refer the issue to the State Attorney's Office.
"I don't know what the exact charges would be but it has to be something criminal because you're dealing with the health of individuals," Jefferson said.
The mother told News4Jax she's regretful.
"I feel like this is not even real and if I could go back and change it, I definitely would," she said.
All About Kids and Families Medical Center said the medical materials that were in the exam room were removed and resanitized. It said an internal investigation revealed no risk or harm to other patients.
Below is the full statement issued Wednesday from All About Kids and Families Medical Center:
"We were notified yesterday a patient had violated our trust with behavior that is inconsistent with the practices and standards that we uphold and expect at our facility.
"Upon notification of this isolated incident, we contacted law enforcement to request a full and thorough investigation. In addition, we immediately removed all materials and containers from the specific exam room and re-sanitized our entire facility. Our internal investigation does not reveal any resulting risks or harm to patients from this action.
"This type of behavior is not tolerated at All About Kids and Families Medical Center. Each year, we serve thousands of patients, and providing quality care and ensuring their safety is our top priority."