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Opinion Editorial Dr. Phil crosses line for attention The cult of celebrity has infected this country to a point that sometimes it stampedes common decency. Only a hermit wouldn't know that Britney Spears was hospitalized last week, perhaps as part of her custody battle or perhaps as part of her addictions, whatever they are — including the addiction to publicity. We also learned that Dr. Phil McGraw visited her at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as she was being discharged and later that McGraw was going to devote an hour-long show to Spears' situation. Some Amarilloans will remember that McGraw was here to beef up Oprah Winfrey's fragile emotions during the battle with local cattle barons over her remarks about what should and shouldn't be for dinner. The Amarillo experience launched the publicity hound psychologist's meteoric rise. Some facts might put McGraw and his character into perspective. This native Oklahoman got his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas but ran into trouble with the state licensing board when he practiced in Wichita Falls. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists disciplined him in 1989 for an inappropriate "dual relationship" of giving a client a job. McGraw calls himself a psychologist, but he is no longer licensed in Texas or California, where he lives. CNN reported some of this under the headline "Did Dr. Phil step over the line with Spears?" We can answer that. McGraw, in letting the public know he visited this patient and in initially announcing he was planning a show, crossed the line. He and Spears may deserve one another as co-enablers in the love of publicity but those serious about mental health should push for his prosecution for practicing without a license. E-mail
comments about this story Posted: January 10, 2008
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