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Phil McGraw: Caring Family Friend, or Shameless Self-Promoter?
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After Britney's standoff with police last week and the ensuing tornado of paparazzi, internet rumors, and unconfirmed accounts of the incident, there is one story that is causing a stir and its not centered around Britney, but rather, Dr. Phil McGraw, TV host.
Early Saturday morning, as Britney was packing to leave Cedars Sinai, Dr. Phil paid an unexpected visit to her room on the 7th floor as he was requested to do by her parents Lynne and Jamie Spears who were worried Britney was being released too soon. Dr. Phil's press release:
"My meeting with Britney and some of her family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention. She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car. I am very concerned for her."
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However, sources from the hospital and close to Britney state that they only visited for fifteen minutes and Dr. Phil did most of the talking, shocker. As TMZ is reporting, Briney wanted nothing to do with him, or his desire to have her and the rest of her family on his talk show for a televised intervention.
Members of the medical community are questioning why Cedars hospital allowed someone who was not the patient's doctor to visit her without consent, warning, and after she had been officially released. Perhaps they were starstruck by Dr. Phil? Britney clearly needs help, but does she really need it from Dr. Phil, his heavily produced TV show, and in front of millions? I'm no doctor, but I'm guessing no.
After Brit's dad realized Dr. Phil was making public statements about Britney, for his own self-promotion Life & Style is reporting that he has forbade his ex-wife Lynne and his son to appear on the show, or have anymore contact with Dr. Phil or his producers.
The Dr. Phil show IS taping a Britney-esque intervention type show today, which will be aired on Tuesday.
AP Photo
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