LOS ANGELES – UCLA Medical Center has disciplined an employee for accessing Farrah Fawcett’s medical records, officials said Wednesday.
Fawcett expressed concern to a doctor in May that details of her condition were being leaked to tabloids, and he reported it to hospital executives, UCLA spokeswoman Roxanne Moster said.
Fawcett’s attorney, Kim Swartz, said an employee at the hospital accessed Fawcett’s medical records without authorization, and details about her cancer treatment later showed up in the National Enquirer. The tabloid published details about a recurrence in Fawcett’s cancer before she had a chance to tell family and friends, Swartz said.
“She’s a very private person and she’s reluctant to go public about this, let alone take legal action,” Swartz said. “She’s fighting for her life.”
The Los Angeles Times reported on its website Wednesday that hospital officials fired an employee who reviewed Fawcett’s records without authorization.
The UCLA spokeswoman would not confirm a firing and would not specify the disciplinary action.
Moster said the hospital requires all staff to complete training on patient privacy issues and sign confidentiality agreements.
Doctors declared Fawcett, 61, cancer-free in February 2007, but her cancer returned a few months later.
“It’s disturbing to her when there are false reports that she’s given up and wants to die, when the opposite is true,” said Swartz. “She’s a strong person and a fighter.”
The 1970s television icon is currently being treated for cancer in Germany.
Last month, UCLA Medical Center announced the firing of 13 workers and disciplined several others for snooping into the electronic medical records of Britney Spears.
