Hanks, Barrymore, Schwarzenegger: Medical Files Breached at UCLA, Reseacher Convicted

By: Caroline Black
Topics: Daily Blotter

Tom Hanks (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) A former researcher at the UCLA School of Medicine has been sentenced to four months in federal prison for reading confidential medical files of co-workers and celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Drew Barrymore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Huping Zhou, 47, pleaded guilty in January to four misdemeanor counts of privacy violations, and Tuesday, April 27 became the first person in the country to be sentenced to prison for such an offense, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. Zhou was also fined $2,000.

According to prosecutors, the Chinese immigrant was snooping in confidential patient records both before and after he was given his termination notice in 2003. During that time, he accessed high-profile patient files more than 300 times, including the records of Sharon Osbourne, Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Banks, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Anne Rice.

Zhou's lawyer, Edward Robinson, claims that Zhou, a licensed cardiothoracic surgeon in China, did not know that what he was doing was a federal crime, says the Los Angeles Times. Robinson also pointed out that there is no evidence that Zhou tried to sell any of the information he obtained from the files.

Over the years, UCLA Medical Center has fired several employees for peeking at confidential medical records for such prominent patients as Tom Cruise and Farrah Fawcett, reports the Los Angeles Times.

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by martinageo June 30, 2010 12:54 AM EDT: I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone.The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an attention of every one. This is the concern which exists in the society and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible.
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[url=http://leadingmedication.com]Leading Medication[/url]; Reply to this comment


by martinageo June 30, 2010 12:53 AM EDT: I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone.The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an attention of every one. This is the concern which exists in the society and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible.
==================================
<a href="http://leadingmedication.com" rel="dofollow">Leading Medication</a>; Reply to this comment


by martinageo June 30, 2010 12:51 AM EDT: I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone.The initiative taken for the concern is very serious and need an attention of every one. This is the concern which exists in the society and needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible.
==================================
<a href="http://leadingmedication.com" rel="dofollow">Leading Medication</a>; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 April 30, 2010 1:14 AM EDT: Reading results of prostate exams and pap smears? Some people are apparently turned on by this and others will pay to read it.; Reply to this comment


by Joey_Oakes_2 April 29, 2010 10:01 PM EDT: Mr. Tom Hanks movies are fantastic,i wish,i could join him in his next film,i've never been before in the indian ocean but watching huge tidal waves is a great adventure. Street action is more likely to a reality show.which gives simplicity in life.; Reply to this comment


by Lifeson2112 April 29, 2010 6:28 PM EDT: Tom Hank's file contained a record of his contracting 'liberalis hystericis'. Side effects include an irrational view of how the world actually works and how people actually live. Severe cases may cause the victim to believe World War II was fought because of racism.; Reply to this comment