UCLA Medical Center Snoop Indicted

Woman accused of selling stars' medical records to tabloids

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 29, 2008 11:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – A former UCLA Medical Center employee has been indicted for snooping in the medical records of the stars and selling the information to tabloids, the Los Angeles Times reports. Lawanda Jackson is accused of making thousands from the sale of information about celebrities including Farrah Fawcett and Maria Shriver. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Jackson quit her job as an administrative specialist last year when UCLA made it clear it was going to fire her. She admits peeking into the records of famous patients but denies it was for cash. "Clearly I made a mistake; let's put it like that," she told the Times. "I didn't leak anything or anything like that. It wasn't for money or anything. It was just looking."

Information about Farrah Fawcett's treatment for cancer was among the data stolen. (AP Photo)

A former administrative specialist at UCLA Medical Center has been indicted, accused of selling the private medical records of famous patients to the tabloids. (Getty Images)

The 49-year-old ex-UCLA staffer is accused of selling information about famous patients, including California's First Lady, Maria Shriver. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, file)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

14 More Called Out for Medical Snooping

State says 68 people peeked at celebrities' files at UCLA center

(NEWSER) - Fourteen more staffers at the UCLA medical center have been accused of snooping in celebrities’ files, raising the number to 68, the Los Angeles Times reports. A new state report blames UCLA for its lack of privacy protection and for failing to report the snooping to authorities. It also provides more details about an administrator who reportedly looked at the files of Farrah Fawcett and sold information to tabloids. More»

Nosy UCLA MDs Got Off Easier Than Other Staff

Some of the non-docs who peeked at Britney's files were fired

(NEWSER) - The MDs who wrongly looked at Britney Spears’ medical records while she was being treated on two occasions at UCLA hospitals have gotten off easier than other staff, the Los Angeles Times reports. Of the at least 53 snoopers, 18 non-doctors retired, resigned, or were dismissed, but none of the 14 physicians with prying eyes quit or was fired. More»

UCLA Worker Snooped in Farrah's Files

News of star's recurring cancer was leaked to tabloid

(NEWSER) - A UCLA staffer sneaked peeks into actress Farrah Fawcett's confidential health records and apparently leaked information on her treatment for cancer to the media, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sensational headlines about Fawcett's illness subsequently turned up on the website of the National Enquirer before the star had a chance to tell her son that her cancer had returned. More»

Ariz. Hospital Fires 3 for Snooping on Shooting Victims

Three employees accessed confidential medical records

(NEWSER) - The University Medical Center in Tucson has fired three employees for illicitly accessing confidential medical records on the victims of Saturday’s shooting. The hospital is playing host to six of the people injured in the shooting, including Gabrielle Giffords, according to the Arizona Daily Star . Administrators announced the firings yesterday, saying they didn’t believe any of the patients’ confidential info had been made public. The families of the affected patients have been notified. More»

Fawcett: False Tab Reports Add Pain to Cancer

Actress describes sting designed to catch leakers to Enquirer

(NEWSER) - Farrah Fawcett’s battle with the prying media runs a close second to her battle with cancer. In an August interview with the Los Angeles Times published today, the actress slammed the National Enquirer’s often-inaccurate reporting of her condition and describes a sting she and her doctors designed to prove that an employee at UCLA was feeding information to the tab. If she had an eye test, they reported she was going blind; when she had a Pap smear, the story was she had a hysterectomy. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

UCLA Medical Center Snoop Indicted

Woman accused of selling stars' medical records to tabloids

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

privacy • UCLA • National Enquirer • confidential information • UCLA Medical Center • medical records • Farrah Fawcett

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

14 More Called Out for Medical Snooping

State says 68 people peeked at celebrities' files at UCLA center

Nosy UCLA MDs Got Off Easier Than Other Staff

Some of the non-docs who peeked at Britney's files were fired

UCLA Worker Snooped in Farrah's Files

News of star's recurring cancer was leaked to tabloid

Ariz. Hospital Fires 3 for Snooping on Shooting Victims

Three employees accessed confidential medical records

Fawcett: False Tab Reports Add Pain to Cancer

Actress describes sting designed to catch leakers to Enquirer

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

UCLA Medical Center Snoop Indicted

Woman accused of selling stars' medical records to tabloids

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

privacy • UCLA • National Enquirer • confidential information • UCLA Medical Center • medical records • Farrah Fawcett

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

14 More Called Out for Medical Snooping

State says 68 people peeked at celebrities' files at UCLA center

Nosy UCLA MDs Got Off Easier Than Other Staff

Some of the non-docs who peeked at Britney's files were fired

UCLA Worker Snooped in Farrah's Files

News of star's recurring cancer was leaked to tabloid

Ariz. Hospital Fires 3 for Snooping on Shooting Victims

Three employees accessed confidential medical records

Fawcett: False Tab Reports Add Pain to Cancer

Actress describes sting designed to catch leakers to Enquirer

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?