Tiger Woods loses privacy bid as judge opens medical history to state
Tiger Woods loses privacy bid as judge opens medical history to state
Publish Date: 2026-05-12 14:34:00
Source Domain: www.marca.com
Tiger Woods has lost a legal effort to keep his prescription drug records private after a Florida judge ruled that prosecutors may subpoena them regarding his March DUI arrest.
The decision was issued by Martin County Circuit Court Judge Darren Steele during a brief hearing on Tuesday. Woods did not appear in court, as he is reportedly receiving treatment in Switzerland following the incident.
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The ruling gives investigators access to pharmacy records tied to prescriptions filled in the months leading up to the crash near his Jupiter Island home.
The case stems from Woods’ March 27 arrest after his SUV struck a trailer and rolled onto its side on a residential road. He now faces misdemeanor DUI, refusal to submit to a lawful test, and distracted driving charges.
Woods’ legal team, led by attorney Douglas Duncan, argued that he has a constitutional right to privacy over his medical records and sought to restrict their release unless proven relevant.
Prosecutors countered that prescription details could help determine whether he’d been properly warned about medication effects on driving ability. The court sided with the state, but both parties agreed to a protective order limiting access.
Only prosecutors, law enforcement, expert witnesses, and the defense will see the records, which are exempt from public release under Florida law. Authorities are focused on prescriptions filled between January 1 and March 27, including dosage amounts, pill counts and any driving warnings.
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The current investigation follows a crash in which deputies said they found pain medication in Woods’ pocket at the scene. The pills were identified as hydrocodone, and officers reported signs of impairment after responding to the overturned SUV.
Authorities said the vehicle was traveling on a 30mph residential roadway when it clipped a trailer,…
