In a rare instance of prosecution for medical records disclosure, a former administrative staffer at UCLA Medical Center has been indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of selling celebrity medical information to the media. Lawanda Jackson allegedly sold information on 60 patients, including California first lady Maria Shriver and actress Farah Fawcett. If convicted, Jackson faces up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Jackson got at least $4,600 during the period from 2006 through mid-2007 for disclosing information on Fawcett to a media outlet. Jackson, for her part, denies that she sold the information, though she admits that she did look at the records.
To learn more about the indictment:
- read this Los Angeles Times article [1]
Related Articles:
Report: UCLA privacy breaches happen often [2]
UCLA staff accused of viewing Britney Spears' records [3]
Union fights suspensions for workers viewing star's records [4]
California expands health data breach rules [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ucla30apr30,1,2997318.story
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/report-ucla-privacy-breaches-happen-often/2008-04-11
[3] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/ucla-staff-accused-viewing-britney-spears-records/2008-03-24
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/union-fights-suspensions-workers-viewing-stars-records/2007-10-12
[5] http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/california-expands-health-data-breach-rules/2008-01-07