Betty Ford Clinic fires worker who accused Lindsay Lohan of assaulting her

 

The Betty Ford Center has fired an employee who accused Lindsay Lohan of assaulting her, saying the worker violated patient confidentiality by speaking to the media about the case.

It is the first time the renowned rehab center has fired an employee for violating patient privacy in the media, the center said.

The center did not name the employee involved the Dec. 12 police report, but the firing came after TMZ.com posted a video and a document from a woman who complained the actress hurt her wrist and displayed a wrist brace.

"When patients come to the center for treatment, they come to a safe place where their identity is protected, where anonymity is safeguarded," said the center in a statement. "Regrettably, on December 21, 2010, one of our employees violated patients’ confidentiality by talking to the media and by disclosing a privileged document. That employee has been terminated by the Betty Ford Center."

Palm Desert police are completing an investigation into the Dec. 12 incident in which a technician says Lohan battered her during an early-morning confrontation.

The incident also could be determined to be a violation of the terms of her probation in her 2007 drunk-driving arrest, which could send her back to jail. Under the terms of her probation, the "Mean Girls" actress is required to obey all laws.

Palm Desert officers were called to the location at 1:03 a.m. PST for a disturbance at a Betty Ford clinic housing complex. A staffer claimed she had been battered by Lohan, said Sgt. Joseph Borja of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

"The victim desires prosecution," he said.

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Comments

[Coriolana]

I was waiting for that. Newsflash: slavering little menial sees star and picks a fight to get a big payout. What else is new?

[repairman]

It's amazing how someone who is a "star" gets so much attention. Anyone else who gets a DUI also has to abide by the same terms of the court. "Under the terms of her probation, the "Mean Girls" actress is required to obey all laws.". This is the standard rule of thumb.

I don't understand how the courts could force her to check into Betty Ford. I know at least 5 people who have gotten duce's over the years and none of them were required to go to rehab. They had to pay the fine, go to classes and suck up to their insurance companies.

[Big Dude]

Man..this woman (LL) is a walking train wreck. Everywhere she goes and everyone she comes in contact with ends up paying dearly for her actions.
Time to slm the door on her and make her pay for her conduct. Talk about a spoiled brat...

[Kittybarfola]

I hope this woman sues both Lohan and the clinic regardless of the policy. The firing was political. If Lohan doesn't get charged, then this screams bias for movie stars and sends a message that they're above the law.

[tom medlicott]

Ms Lohan has, undoubtably, brought much chaos into her personal life with her choices and her addiction. My family is going through much pain because of similar problems with a family member. Avoiding physical confrontation with another person requires turning around and walking away if at at all possible.We shouldn't know the facts of this matter, it is private. The young woman is seeking help and her interactions with professional staff should be strictly on the downlow. TJM, Redlands

[Olden_Atwoody]

"When patients come to the center for treatment, they come to a safe place where their identity is protected, where anonymity is safeguarded," said the center in a statement.

For a price. A very high price that excludes retaining connon-fodder employess that try top do the right thing.

[LilySweet]

Ex-staffer just looking for some quick $$$ and TMZ obliged. Now she's unemployed during an ugly recession - smart move.

[Bob]

Lindsey Lohan and the Republican Congress: Tantrums R Us.

[geoff]

this whole thing was a complete violation of a patients rights. any patients rights. she should be fired.

[Joe]

The fired worker will score big in court. Lohan's privacy was nonexistent as her family, lawyer and the press have all made statements about her being at the Betty Ford Clinic. The Betty Ford Clinic is simply sending a message to other prospective big-money clients that they can continue to behave badly so long as they pay the bills.

[Hal]

I hope she does well. Despite alot of haters, I'm actually rooting for her. People seem to forget that she is a young woman trying to get some help. Glad she is getting it.

You go girl!!!

[Eric of Reseda]

@Coriolana - You're a moron. Betty Ford is FULL of stars, has been for decades! If employees there wanted big payouts, you would have seen it a long time ago. Lohan screwed up, again, period.

Throw her butt in jail and KEEP it there until she "gets it", 'cuz clearly she STILL just doesn't understand...

[Certified AOD Counselor]

Betty Ford Center has it WRONG! Its NOT "anonymity" that is protected, its CONFIDENTIALITY! Clearly, this pathetic excuse of a rehabilitation center does not even know anything ABOUT the FEDERAL LAW AND REGULATIONS that require PATIENT PRIVACY! I hope the employee wins, as not only did LL probably instigate the assualt (and was probably high while doing it!), but BFC clearly can't protect patients to the level they are REQUIRED TO!

[David]

What a pity that the world can't fire Lohan. Money talks again.

[Artist]

Ahhh I get my X-mas fix of LiLo gossip.

Seems to me both are wrong in this instance. The worker knows you do not talk about patients but it a celeb so she cashed in and it cost her her job. LiLo was also wrong in that she put herself in this position while going out and partying while in rehab.

Also, why on earth did the clinic let her out?

[honestrob]

@repairmain - did your friends have 3 duis and a host of other charges?
Like coke in their pants when they are arrested?

or multiple chances from the judge?
Or carjacking someone else's vehicle filled with people to chase down her assistant who quit?

Didn't think so.
Send Lilo to the slammer - it's the only way.

[Katarina]

wow poor Lindsay, she cant even try to get better in peace, she has a stupid worker file a suit for battery in a clinic where they are trying to recover. Now i do feel sorry for Lindsay.. she probably swatted the hand of the worker away who was doing something she should not, and the worker hit it on something.

The clinic did the right thing in firing her, if she went right to the police and didnt go up the chain at work. Who probably told her it was not battery or anything other than a normal accident, and to put ice on it and chill.

and yes I bet the worker saw $$$$$$$ and now she wont get unemployment since she was fired.. haha

[mpm]

Lins is showing parents that when you fail to parent, the kids fail. Over and over again. Her parents used her and emotionally abused her, to fill up their narcissistic cups. Now he's in or barely out of jail and mama is on or trying to get back on a reality TV show and where is their little darling? Trying to find out where the boundaries are - the ones that Ma and Pa were too afraid to show her. Maybe a case worker with a hurt wrist and a big mouth are the boundary she is seeking. Yes, you can fool a judge here and there. Yes, when you are wealthy you can avoid jail. But NO, you cannot violate people who have boundaries and are not making a buck out of keeping you sadly dependent on them for their own gain. Lins needs to stay away from her parents at all costs. She needs a facility that doesn't let her abuse others. She needs to stay away from the ills of her youth. She needs a 9 - 5 job where she actually learns to work for a dollar. I hope she gets what she needs in 2011!

[palmstring]

I had to agree with the clinic. Why on earth did the employee report the matter to the police rather than to the paparazzi? A patient has rights to his privacy - period. If the place maintained the worker with her salary reduced, she would continue divulging the information to the wrong hands just to create a spectacle around herself.

[goodluckca]

Phony baloney fame seeker seeking big $ from celebrity.

[shadowpark]

agai two worlds one for the rich and one for you peasants.

[Timber]

Lohan is a trainwreck, that's public knowledge. It's entirely conceivable to me that an individual caregiver could take advantage of that knowledge to bully Ms. Lohan in a way that none of us would find acceptable. I'm an employer; one of the things I have to constantly watch out for is supervisors abusing their authority over others.

[Leilani hagberg]

Sick worker wants big bucks might have been the title here.

[Lysette]

The worker clearly violated HIPAA laws by discussing a patient and deserved to be fired. That said it is easy to understand why she did. She didn't even earn 2k a month at that job. TMZ paid her between 10k - 15k for her story. Her annual salary. We all know that Lindsay is a dingbat and that the worker is probably telling the truth about what happened. I doubt she set Lindsay up for a pay out.

[Sirvipe]

Hal: I agree with you, but SHE has to want to help herself. All the therapy, 12 steps, rehab and people will not help her, only a spiritual contact with God will get through to her. Until then, it's a crapshoot.