Los Angeles: The UCLA Medical Centre, where pop star Britney Spears was hospitalised in late January for psychiatric evaluation, has suspended some employees and may fire others for looking at the singer's medical records, a source said on Friday.

The hospital, where Spears was under observation, issued a statement saying that all staff must sign confidentiality agreements and the hospital has "stringent policies to protect patient" privacy.

The statement said, "When possible confidentiality breaches arise, UCLA immediately launches an investigation and appropriate disciplinary action would then be initiated … due to the confidential nature of both patient and personnel issues, no further information is available."


The Los Angeles Times on Friday said UCLA has taken measures to fire at least 13 employees, discipline as many as six more and could take action against six doctors for
accessing computers to search through Spears' medical records.

Spears, 26, was hospitalised twice in January and placed under psychiatric observation both times, but her condition remains a mystery.