Spears' family criticizes Dr. Phil

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A representative for Britney Spears' family is blasting TV's Dr. Phil McGraw for the way he handled his recent visit to Spears in a Los Angeles hospital.

The pop star was hospitalized last week for a psychological evaluation after she refused to return her two young sons to their father at the end of a visit.

McGraw said he visited Spears in the hospital at her family's request and issued a statement afterward saying the meeting "leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention."

McGraw announced plans to air a Spears-themed show, but he scrapped the idea after drawing widespread disapproval.

Speaking on NBC's "Today" show Wednesday, Spears family representative Lou Taylor said Spears' parents never intended to appear on McGraw's show and it was inappropriate for McGraw to discuss the matter publicly.

"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," Taylor said. "Dr. Phil did broach that issue, and it was vetted amongst the team, but it was decided that that would be detrimental for anybody to ever do that."