LOS ANGELES -- Dr. Phil has been criticized for visiting Britney Spears when she was in the hospital over the weekend and his plans to talk about issues surrounding that visit on his show Tuesday.Bending to public pressure over his proposed Spears intervention show, Dr. Phil has now canceled the program scheduled for tomorrow, according to managing editor Harry Levin at TMZ.com.
In a statement on the Dr. Phil site, he said, "As was widely reported this weekend, at the request of concerned family members, I visited Britney Spears in the hospital. The details of that visit will, of course, remain private. We had planned to tape a Dr. Phil Now show today, focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney's latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case."
The statement goes on, "Clearly, it is not just Britney's family struggling to find a way to protect adult children who cannot be ordered or compelled to seek help. Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time. Britney and her family are in our prayers, and we ask that they be in yours."
Levin had criticized Dr. Phil for stepping in, saying "Britney didn't ask for it, Britney didn't know about it" and he says Spears walked out when Dr. Phil walked in.
TMZ.com says it spoke with eight psychiatrists who don't think Dr. Phil should've been allowed in to see Spears when he doesn't have in-patient privileges. One says "it's a total violation of her rights.
Dr. Phil airs on WKYC at 5 PM weekdays.
Courtesy: The Associated Press
