It was the second time that Fawcett's privacy had been breached at UCLA, according to the Times.
Worker in hot water over Fawcett's medical records
LOS ANGELES (AP) - April 3, 2008 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 Web site 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."
Enquirer senior reporter Alan Smith told the Times that
Fawcett's cancer is newsworthy.
"We publish what we believe is accurate," he said.
The 1970s television icon is currently being treated for cancer
in Germany.
"She is cautiously optimistic," Craig J. Nevius told the
Times. Nevius is producing a documentary about the former star of
"Charlie's Angels" and her battle with cancer.
"Farrah has learned the hard way that with cancer, the test is
time. At the moment she has no detectable cancer," he said.
Last month, UCLA Medical Center announced the firing of 13
workers and disciplined several others for snooping into Spears'
records.
The California Department of Public Health launched an inquiry
into UCLA's handling of Fawcett's files, just as it had after the
Spears incident, the Times reported.