Perlman Clinic King Kong Incident: What Really Happened

Healthcare is supposed to be a safe space. You walk into a clinic, maybe a bit nervous about a blood draw or a lab result, and you expect professional care. But for Kierra King, a visit to a Perlman Clinic location in California turned into a viral nightmare that has sparked a massive conversation about medical bias and "fast-typing" excuses.

Honestly, it’s one of those stories that sounds too bizarre to be real until you see the video.

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The Perlman Clinic King Kong incident isn't just a random clerical error; it’s a flashpoint for how patients of color experience the healthcare system differently. If you’ve seen the TikTok or read the headlines, you know the basics. A medical assistant printed a label for a patient's sample. Instead of the patient’s actual name—Kierra King—the label read "King Kong."

The Viral Confrontation

It started with a video. Kierra King, the patient at the center of the controversy, filmed her interaction with clinic staff after discovering the label. In the footage, you can see her handing the sample back to a staffer, asking what’s wrong with it.

The reaction from the staff was immediate shock. "Oh my God, I’m sorry," one worker said. But "sorry" doesn't explain how a human name like Kierra becomes "Kong" in a digital system where the patient's chart is literally open on the screen.

King’s last name is King. That part is correct. But "Kong"?

When the medical assistant who actually printed the label was brought out, the explanation was... shaky. She claimed it wasn't her "intention" and then blamed the speed of her typing. "I type really fast," she said in the video. "I don't double-check when I'm typing fast."

Why the "Typing Fast" Excuse Doesn't Hold Water

Anyone who has ever worked in an office knows that "King" and "Kong" are only one letter apart (i vs o), which could be a typo if you’re just typing the last name twice. But that’s not what happened here. The first name was replaced.

Kierra King pointed this out clearly. Her name was correctly entered into the computer system. The assistant had to consciously or subconsciously deviate from the data on the screen to produce that specific label.

In the medical world, accuracy is everything. We aren't talking about a typo on a Starbucks cup. We’re talking about a medical specimen. If a clinic is "typing too fast" to get a patient's name right, what else are they rushing?

The Fallout for Perlman Clinic

Perlman Clinic, which has been a staple in the San Diego primary and urgent care scene since 2005, found itself in the middle of a PR disaster. The clinic has built its brand on being "easy and available," focusing on patient satisfaction and longer-than-average appointment times.

But this incident hit a nerve because it tapped into a much larger, documented issue: implicit bias in healthcare.

Studies have shown for years that Black patients often receive different treatment, less pain management, and face higher rates of medical errors. When a medical professional attaches a historically racist trope like "King Kong" to a Black woman’s body or medical sample, it’s not just a "mistake." It’s a signal of the environment.

What Most People Get Wrong

A lot of the online chatter tried to dismiss this as a "silly mistake" or a "coincidence" because the patient's last name was King. But here’s the thing:

• The system already had her name as Kierra.
• The assistant claimed she asked King to double-check the label (King denied this ever happened).
• The "King Kong" trope has a long, ugly history used to dehumanize Black people.

In a professional setting, there is no world where that label should have been printed, let alone handed to a patient.

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Moving Forward: Actionable Steps for Patients

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel your care has been compromised by bias—whether it’s a label on a vial or a dismissive doctor—you have rights.

1. Document everything immediately. Like Kierra King did, use your phone. Record conversations if you are in a one-party consent state, or take photos of the evidence.
2. Ask for the Patient Advocate. Most larger clinics and hospitals have a designated Patient Advocate or Ombudsman whose entire job is to handle these disputes.
3. File a formal grievance. Don't just tell the front desk. Ask for the formal grievance form. This creates a paper trail that the clinic’s insurance and board must review.
4. Report to the Medical Board. If the behavior is egregious, you can file a complaint with the Medical Board of California (or your specific state). They investigate professional misconduct.
5. Seek a second opinion. If you feel a provider’s bias is affecting your diagnosis, go elsewhere. Your health is too important to leave in the hands of someone who doesn't see you as a person.

The Perlman Clinic King Kong story serves as a reminder that healthcare isn't just about medicine; it's about dignity. When that dignity is stripped away, the system fails. Whether it was a "fast typo" or something deeper, the impact on the patient remains the same.

To protect yourself in the future, always verify your labels before samples leave your sight and don't be afraid to speak up the second something feels off.

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Next Steps for Your Health Advocacy

• Check your medical records through your provider's portal (like MyChart) to ensure your history and personal details are accurately reflected.
• If you’ve experienced similar issues at a clinic, consider sharing your story with advocacy groups like the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy (NAHA) to help push for better staff training and accountability in primary care settings.