BRITNEY SPEARS LEAVES HOSPITAL, AFTER A VISIT FROM DR. PHIL
January 05, 2008
CelebTV.com has learned that Britney Spears left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Saturday morning, after an apparently unexpected and unwanted visit from TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw.
The pop star exited the L.A. hospital via an underground tunnel, trailed by Dr. Phil, as first reported by Entertainment Tonight.
The TV talk show host is taping a show about Spears on Monday, set to air Wednesday, according to TMZ. The website received a request for Britney video from The Dr. Phil Show on Friday.
"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," Dr. Phil told ET. "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."
A court commissioner on Friday gave Spears' ex, Kevin Federline, sole physical and legal custody of 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, and suspended Spears' visitation rights.
The ruling followed a bizarre standoff at Spears' home Thursday night, where police had to intervene after the singer refused to return the children to Federline after a court-monitored visit.
A dazed-looking Spears, visibly laughing, was strapped to a gurney and transported by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai just before midnight Thursday.
The singer was placed on a 72-hour lockdown for mental evaluation when she was admitted to the hospital.
Spears threw a fit on the 7th floor of Cedars-Sinai Saturday morning, refusing to sit still and demanding to be released, according to TMZ.
According to the website, Britney's parents asked Dr. Phil to visit their daughter, but Britney did not know he was coming and wanted nothing to do with the TV doctor when he showed up at her room at 7:30 Saturday morning.
According to mental health experts consulted by CelebTV.com, the hospital nonetheless would have been required to release Spears -- who apparently did not attempt suicide -- unless she was determined to pose a danger to herself or others.
