More Dirt on the Dr. Phil Fiascoby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 20 Jan 2008 12:29 AM In a previous blog I mentioned that talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw is reportedly being investigated by the California Board of Psychology for practicing without a license while visiting Britney Spears' after her latest meltdown. Well, now it appears the in your face Texan may be getting off the hook. While California authorities are mandated to investigate any time a complaint is filed (in Dr. Phil's case a complaint was filed last week by a practicing shrink who alleges McGraw, who does not hold a license to practice psychology in California, violated doctor-patient privilege by discussing the derailed singer's case with the media) sources say this filing may not go very far. Mental health experts say according to state regulations, Dr. Phil would have violated state law only if he charged Spears or her family for his services--which he reportedly didn't do. Never mind that he was likely looking for pay back in the way of having Brit's parents appear on his syndicated talk show days after he paid a visit to their pop princess daughter at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center shortly after the New Year's holiday. But that show never happened thanks to Phil blabbing about his "intervention" with Brit. To say McGraw's hospital visit with Spears has turned into a huge embarrassment for the TV shrink is a severe understatement, but at least there's hope he could avoid being sanctioned by the California Board of Psychology. After all, McGraw knows what it's like to be disciplined by a board of mental health experts. As I mentioned in my previous blog, in addition to not holding a license to practice psychology in California, McGraw is also not licensed to practice psychology in Texas, his home state. Why you ask? Because the big guy was slapped with disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists in 1989. Back then a former therapy client had filed a complaint against Dr. Phil, claiming their relationship was inappropriate. McGraw later admitted giving her a job but denied touching her. Oh what a tangled web we weave... Related Articles: Dr. Phil Cancels Britney Intervention Show Dr. Phil Defends Britney Ambush Dr. Phil Smells Fresh Meat and Her Name is Britney Spears Britney Spears Released From Hospital---Medical Staff Rejoices Britney Loses Kids Again---But for How Long? Britney Update: Locked Up then Locked Down Britney Spears Flips Out Causes Pandemonium in L.A. Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantpopular culture tags User Comments  Libby Pelham |
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