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TwitterFarrah Fawcett helped prove UCLA leaked her health records
Farrah Fawcett talked to former L.A. Times reporter Charles Ornstein last August about her suspicions that tabloids were being leaked (sold) her medical information by someone at UCLA.
Whenever she sought treatment at the Westwood medical facility, word was leaked to the tabs.
When she went in for an eye exam, "they had to say I was going blind." When she had a Pap smear, "they had to say that the cancer had spread; I was having a hysterectomy," Ornstein writes.
Fawcett was sure she was right but needed to prove her theory. So when she found out that her cancer had returned in May 2007, she didn't tell relatives and friends.
"I set it up with the doctor," she told Ornstein. "I said, 'OK, you know and I know.' . . . I knew that if it came out, it was coming from UCLA."
Within four days of her diagnosis, the news of her cancer was in the Enquirer. How sick is that?
The leaker, Lawanda Jackson, was paid $4,600 (in her husband's name) by the National Enquirer. She pleaded guilty in December of the charges but died in March of cancer, before sentencing.
A two-hour documentary, "Farrah's Story,'' about Fawcett's struggle with cancer, will air Friday on NBC. Fawcett herself shot some of the candid footage, as did her famous and loving friends.
Fawcett's cancer has spread to her liver, she is now bedridden and has lost her hair, Ryan O'Neal told People. Her treatment has essentially stopped, he said.
But her publicist, Arnold Robinson, told the Dish Rag that Farrah is still stable, resting, eating and seeing friends, and that she is still receiving "treatment."
Related Farrah Fawcett news:
Farrah Fawcett's son released from jail to see his mother
Farrah Fawcett reportedly hospitalized
Farrah Fawcett's father, age 91, flies in to see her
Farrah Fawcett's publicist says she is stable.
Photo credit: WireImage
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That certainly makes a mockery of the HIPPA act doesn't it. When I go to the doctor, any doctor, I sign all these stupid pieces of paper to keep all my records secret. What is the point? Turns out that not even the staff at a world reknown hospital can't be trusted. Methinks that medical personnel are seriously overpaid and should take a big, big pay cut, maybe then we could afford to go to the doctor when we needed to go.
That's karma for you.
The person who leaked information about Ms.Fawcett had cancer herself? Unbelieveable! Apparently what she did NOT have was compassion or a conscience. My prayers are with Ms. Fawcett and her family.
This is despicable and has been going on for years at hospitals and doctors offices.
These medical establishments need to STOP allowing anyone who works there to access patient files.
It is INSUFFICIENT to vow punishment after the fact. It is not an effective deterrent and is of no solace to the patient that the perpetrator is punished. Their privacy has already been breached.
It's not just celebs who suffer this violation. Non-celebs are targets, too, and are entitled to equal respect.
Doctors have contempt for HIPAA. They see it as a burden rather than a duty, and they resent it. Many doctors have openly expressed this fact.
Does anyone actually believe that the fatally ill (now dead) woman did this? This screams cover-up. Who better to take the fall then someone who would never be punished for it and who was in desperate need of cash? If I were in her place, I'd certainly jump at an offer like that.
This story is especially fishy smelling when you take into consideration that $4600 is so far "below par" for what the tabloids pay for information or photos as to be absurd.
It is much more likely that on of the doctors or interns, struggling with a 6 figure med-school debt, is the actual culprit and not some fatally ill woman. But... theres no way to punish her, and a doctor would lose their license (and the hospital would lose millions in the lawsuit).
Read the fine print. HIPPA is a joke. It is the opposite of privacy. It was created to seem like more privacy when in fact you are allowing your records to be seen by more people and more govt. and insurance agencies.
Well, Elaine Connelly, your logic is flawed. If you give everyone a "big, big pay cut" what would be the incentive to NOT leak stories for pay? Incidentally, if doctors and other medical professionals were paid crap, the best and brightest students would choose other careers, leaving those with the IQ of Britney Spears to care for seriously ill people. Would you like fries with that cholecystectomy? Duh! The best way is to pay dedicated, educated people what they are worth, and punish severely anyone who commits the crime (and serious moral offense) of breaking confidentiality rules. Then you'll get the best care. Incidentally, how do you know that the $8 an hour phlebotomist (person who draws blood) didn't leak the story? "Overpaid"- I think not!
I agree with Kevin W., totally not this dead woman who pulled this stunt! And HIPAA...please. We wonder why our country has such a huge identity theft problem?? I pray Fawcett will beat this cancer.
I would not go to UCLA for any type of care... Leaking medical records!!!! That is an absolutely intolerable offense and I hope that legal action is brought against the facility. They have been accused of doing the same thing in the Britney Spears hospitalization event.