Scorpio
The question is, did he breach patient confidentiality that medical professionals are expected to uphold? In searching for an answer to that question, I unearthed some details about Dr. Phil that I had not previously known, and that I believe you will find fascinating.
Less than two days after Britney Spears was involuntarily sent to a Los Angeles psych ward as a danger to herself and others, the television therapist showed up as she was being released from the hospital.
Invited by the Spears' family, but not by Britney herself, Dr. Phil walked into Britney's room. A blindsided Britney walked out, eventually coming back, but only staying inside the room with him for about 15 minutes, not an hour as Dr. Phil's press release states. Also, Dr. Phil did all the talking, according to sources.
He then went on TV and said, "My meeting with Britney and some family members this morning in her room at Cedars Sinai leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention... I am very concerned about her."
Spears' family and many in the mental health community are questioning both Dr. Phil's motives and his professional ethics. "The family basically extended an invitation of trust for him to come in as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements," said Lou Taylor, a family business manager said on NBC's "Today" show.
Certainly "inappropriate" is a useful word to describe Dr. Phil's actions! The question now is whether he is guilty of professional misconduct.
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Re: I Smell A Rat: Dr. Phil Betrays Britney
By luyen, January 10, 2008 at 19:20It's sad - but when Britney implodes like she eventually will, people will become even more entranced, just like they did with Paris and Lindsey, it's a morbid kind of fascination that isn't about to change overnight, and you can't help but feel sorry for Britney. Is this the rewards you reap for being young, rich and famous? Doesn't seem all that great...and if you have a problem, it's front page news...Britney has been in the spotlight since she was a teenager, she's an icon/role-model/zoo animal to the people who follow her with interest or disdain, i don't know how she can ever 'be normal'...it's really a shame, and very sad for her.
Re: I Smell A Rat: Dr. Phil Betrays Britney
By Becki, January 27, 2008 at 10:06I agree. However, there ARE those who handle it well. I modeled/acted for many years, and the girls who I felt sorry for were the ones who had "stage moms." There were girls who HATED being in the business, and yet had very successful careers. Some parents even paid off agents, to give their daughters more work. It was a very bizarre thing to see a parent behaving so badly, and it broke my heart for those children. As such, I wouldn't let my sons be kid models, even though we were constantly approached by agents, as they were very "pretty" kids. I think children should have a normal childhood, or as normal as possible. If they want to be in the business, and they AND their parents can handle it, then I think that makes a healthy scenario.
Thanks so much for your comment!
Re: I Smell A Rat: Dr. Phil Betrays Britney
By Michelle Kenneth, January 10, 2008 at 16:58Thank you for that.
It actually wasn't 15 minutes with Dr. Phil. She only tolerated him for about 2 minutes. Dr. Phil's wife is a friend of Lynne Spears and was asked to do this on her request. Dr. Phil attempted to exploit the situation. The reason why the "special" was canceled was b/c Brit refused to cooperate.
If she had gone onto the show in her state, Dr. Phil would have attempted to embarrass her in front of the world. Nothing good would have come from this situation. What's going on with Britney is of no concern to the world. The only shrink she's talking to is a friend that doesn't seek to benefit off of her or put her on TV to embarrass her.
There are deep-seeded issues and she wants to work through them, but the world is making it so difficult for her to work on them. Just last night, she tried to get away and focus on healing. Paparazzi sites started posting up a $10,000 reward for information that would lead to the whereabouts of Britney Spears.
World...if you even care about another human being, let her be. Let her find her way and stop bashing her for being human.
That $10K reward last night was just as bad as paps killing Princess Diana.
Re: I Smell A Rat: Dr. Phil Betrays Britney
By Becki, January 27, 2008 at 10:16First of all, thank you for your comment. I'd like to ask you how you know that "She only tolerated him for about 2 minutes." I did extensive research for this article, and it was the nurses and staff who all said the same thing...that after he walked into her room, she ran out. She came back a while later, and he rambled on for about 15 minutes, while she said not much of anything at all.
I will actually have to respectfully disagree with your statements about her wanting to go away and get some healing. She is quite disturbed, and healing is the farthest thing on her mind, in my opinion. As a mother, I can tell you, her actions are far from normal. Going out and partying every night is not seeking healing, unless you count self medicating the pain as "healing."
What the papparrazi did to Princess Di was horrible. Yet, in my opinion, and as a mother, she should have been wearing a seatbelt. Her life wouldn't have ended had she been wearing one, according to the doctors and emergency personnel.
Again, though, thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
Re: I Smell A Rat: Dr. Phil Betrays Britney
By Michelle Kenneth, January 27, 2008 at 11:51I know Brit Brit. So I have a bit more insight into the situation.