Danielle Steel Talks About Britney's Situation

The following italicized article is taken from www.theinsideronline.com:

In a rare interview, New York Times best-selling author DANIELLE STEEL comments on BRITNEY SPEARS' situation telling Reuters, "I feel so sorry for her."

Steel speaks from experience. Her son NICK was diagnosed at the age of 16 with bipolar disorder and committed suicide more than a decade ago at the age of 19.

"Usually bipolars present extremely well and they can bounce into court ... look very together and be a complete mess three hours later on the streets somewhere," she told Reuters at an event for the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Nick Traina Foundation. "There's nothing you can do."

In echoing the recent and widespread speculation regarding Britney, Steel suggests that her problems, "illustrate the drama and dilemma of the family of mentally ill people in this country -- it's a very, very tough thing."

But she says there is hope for the troubled pop star and her family. "If it is the case (that she has bipolar), she can get on track with the right treatment and medication," she says. "In the case of Britney Spears' parents what you have to be is extremely loving, extremely resourceful and extremely persistent and every time you're defeated, just go at the problem again."

Source: The Insider Online

X17 XCLUSIVE - Sam Sets The Record Straight

The following italicized article is taken from www.x17online.com:

X17 just got off the phone with Sam's spokesperson, Michael Sands, who felt the need to address the many rumors floating around about Sam's intentions towards Britney, calling them "pure rhetoric".

He went on to say that Sam has not escaped to Dubai, has no intentions of suing Lynne Spears for defamation, and perhaps most importantly, "never demanded cash" from Brit's business manager (at least for now), Howard Grossman.

"Sam was inserted into Britney's life in October," by whom, Sands would not say, "after Britney had already shaved her head and been in two drug rehabs. Sam became her manager, and then her close friend. A manager does get paid." Sands went on to insist that Sam never asked, much less insisted, on being paid more than he deserved as someone in Brit's employ.

In fact, Sam has already turned down several multi-million dollar offers from the media, refusing to do any interviews. "He is not Shannon Funk or Tony Barretto," says Sands, in reference to the former assistant and bodyguard who have profited from being in Brit's employ, "he wouldn't take advantage of someone who has a disorder. He's not selling her out. There will be no big score." Furthermore, Sam repeatedly refused to accept her money when Britney tried to offer to fix his car, after it was severely damaged by Kevin's process server, Aaron Cohen.

As for Lynne's allegations against Sam in the restraining order filed against him by Jamie Spears, Sands calls them completely false. "If the allegations were accurate, why didn't they get Sam on a 'terrorist threat'? Why didn't they arrest him?" Furthermore, Sam's spokesperson insists that the media try to dig for the facts before passing judgment. "If anyone has questions about Sam's criminal record, I invite them to contact the local, state and federal government to check."

As for Jamie Spears' "complete control" over his daughter, Sands likened Spears to "Davy Crockett making his last stand at the Alamo," as the last one to realize that what Britney really needs is medication to treat her illness.

Sands added that is was his "ultimate goal" to bring peace to the entire situation, so the blame can be placed squarely where it belongs: on Brit's disease.

Source: X17

Blablabla....

He's Not A Doctor!!!!!!!!

Osama Lutfi has hired a publicist so that people can find out the truth about him. Uh huh.

His new mouthpiece is a fella named Michael Sands, who up until this week - when he was fired - was the spokesperson for Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Well, Sands held a press conference on behalf of Lutfi Thursday morning and he talked a lot of shit.

However, one of the most alarming things he said was the following:

"Sam has been providing prescription medication, cocktails is what its called for Britney's medical issues. Sometimes the medication really doesn't work and you have to change it and you see outrageous behavior displayed in public."

He should not have been giving her ANY cocktails, alcoholic or medicinal.

Britney Spears needs to be under the constant supervision of DOCTORS and trained medical professionals!

Thankfully, her parents have a restraining order against Lutfi.

Stay away, Osama!

Source: Perez Hilton

Sam Lutfi Speaks Out On Britney!

The following italicized article is taken from www.etonline.com:

SAM LUTFI, the self-proclaimed manager and constant companion to BRITNEY SPEARS over the past several months, is speaking out on allegations that he drugged the troubled pop star without her knowledge.

A restraining order was recently filed against Sam, which was requested by Britney's parents. In shocking court documents released yesterday, LYNNE SPEARS claimed her daughter's confidant crushed up medication and put it into her food.

In speaking with ET, Sam does not acknowledge the allegations, simply saying, "Britney takes prescription medication."

As to reports that he admitted to medicating her, "That ... stuff is fake," he says.

Source: ET Online

EXCLUSIVE: Sam Lutfi Admits He Gave Britney Spears "A Handful Of Pills"

The following italicized article is taken from www.usmagazine.com:

Sam Lutfi, who is now on the receiving end of a restraining order imposed by Britney Spears' parents, was the one person by her side as she unraveled over the past six months.

In the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now, Spears' de facto manager and confidant opens up about her bipolar disorder, how he medicated her, what happened the night she was hospitalized, and how her parents reacted.

"In the depressive episodes, it's all crying," Lutfi tells Us. "But in the manic episode, there's very little crying or sympathy or compassion. She becomes another person. She becomes somebody that just doesn't care about anybody or anything."

"The British accent is part of the mania," he adds. "She'll stick to the British accent because she becomes comfortable with it... But you know, when the pink wig comes on, it's getting bad."

Lutfi says that when Spears was involuntarily committed to treatment at UCLA Medical Center on January 31, her mom, Lynne Spears, arrived and tried to remove her daughter from his guidance. "Well, he is better family than you guys will ever be," Spears responded, according to Lutfi.

Lutfi tells Us that he gave Britney "a handful of pills" before her parents arrived. "I said these pills are working wonders, they are miracle pills," he recalls. Spears, Lutfi says, agreed that the meds were helping her sleep.

(In their restraining order against Lutfi filed yesterday, Spears' parents accuse him of drugging their daughter and being verbally abusive. Jamie, who has been named as his daughter's conservator, "is doing what he has to do to save Britney," a source tells Us.)

Spears is one of nearly six million American adults suffering from bipolar disorder, a mental illness consisting of extreme shifts in mood, thought, energy, and behavior patterns.

Lutfi, 33, tells Us only he, Spears, and her psychiatrist know what brought on her bipolar disorder "roughly five years ago."

When the ambulance arrived to take Spears, "she was very quiet," Lutfi tells Us.

"When I told her, she wrote me a note and put a big heart on it and it said, 'I love you, Sam. Are there people coming? Circle yes or no,'" Lutfi recalls. "Oh, my God, it was funny, just the cutest little thing. I circled yes and I gave it back to her, and she looked at me and she's like, 'Oh, lord, here we go again.'"

Attorneys are fighting on Spears' behalf to take conservatorship away from Jamie. Having Jamie in control of her estate and medical decisions is a worst-case scenario for Spears, sources tell Us.

Check out the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now, for a complete portrait of Spears' life at UCLA and more from Lutfi.

Source: US Weekly

Source: Britney Will See Kids Again

The following italicized article is taken from www.eonline.com:

Britney Spears still has at least 10 days of quality time in the psych ward of UCLA Medical Center.

But, according to an insider closer to Spears' custody battle with Kevin Federline, the "Gimme More" singer's successful completion of her hospital stint would put her on track to regain visitation rights with her children after her discharge.

"It will be monitored visitation, of course," the source tells E! News. "But still, she'll get to see her kids. They are just looking for signs that she's stabilized. But look, if she continues to take whatever medication she needs and sees her doctors regularly, they won't keep her kids from her."

Federline, 29, is aware of the possibility and isn't opposed to the visits.

"As long as she in a stable place, mentally, and there's a monitor there, he's okay with it," the source says.

Spears, 26, hasn't seen sons Sean Preston or Jayden James for more than a month. She is scheduled to remain hospitalized through Valentine's Day. The next hearing in her custody case is Feb. 19.

Separately, the K-Fed camp took a shot from Spears' side on Monday. Michael Sands, the spokesman for Federline lead attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, was the latest person to be subpoenaed in the long-playing custody clash.

Spears' legal eagles at Trope and Trope served Sands Monday, compelling him to submit to a deposition.

While Sands is not commenting on why Team Britney want to talk to him, his attorney, Randolph Wright, offers that they might be trying to press his client on what he knows about Kevin Federline's lifestyle.

"That would make sense," Wright said. "Why else bring in a top media consultant hired for Kevin's case and try to depose him? It seems to me they are trying to find out about the relationship between my client and Kevin Federline."

But Wright added that he suspects Trope and Trope will gain very little by grilling Sands.

"My guess," said Wright, "is that is will be a very short deposition."

Source: E! Online

Britney Spears's Life Inside The Hospital

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears's 72-hour psychiatric hold at the UCLA Medical Center has expired as of Sunday morning – but the singer is still hospitalized.

Legal analysts say either her psychiatrist requested an additional 14-day hold, or Spears is staying voluntarily on a day-to-day basis.

What is life like for Spears at the Stewart & Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA? According to the patient's bill of rights at the hospital, she is allowed to wear her own clothes and keep her own personal possessions, including toiletries. She may also see visitors every day and make and receive phone calls – but not on her personal cell phone. There are pay phones on the floor.

There are two wings at the hospital, separated by a kitchen/dining room. Patients sometimes mix, especially for smoke breaks out on the deck, which is gated and surrounded by a metal fence.

The average patient sees his or her attending doctor every day. Since UCLA is a teaching hospital, the attending doctors are often accompanied by students. Staffers check on patients at least once an hour, even during the night.

'It's a Terrible Situation'

The Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital is known as one of the top facilities of its kind; still, "It is a terrible situation," says a source close to the Spears family. "Britney is in a padded room. Her family is so worried about her."

Terry K. Wasserman, a veteran L.A. attorney specializing in mental health cases (who’s not involved in the Spears matter), explains that if a patient becomes combative, he or she "could be placed in a 'quiet room,' some of which are padded."

Wasserman adds: "Another possibility is being confined to a bed by leather restraints. In extreme, life-threatening situations – when the patient is a threat to oneself or medical staff – a psychiatrist can inject a person with psychotropic medication."

In addition, Wasserman says, "a doctor can force a patient to take prescribed medication. If he or she resists taking the meds, the psychiatrist can obtain authorization to forcefully medicate the person – but only after a hearing on the matter takes place."

Source: People

Britney Went Willingly

The following italicized article is from www.tmz.com:

TMZ has learned the plan to get Britney into UCLA Medical Center had been hatched for days -- it was aborted last night, but executed just minutes ago. And we're told the plan was so intricate the FAA had cleared airspace in route to the hospital.

Back at her house, Britney's psychiatrist told her she was going to the hospital. Her response was, "Is something wrong?" She was not resistant. She made hot chocolate and waited before paramedics arrived and placed her on a gurney.

We're told the psychiatrist felt her condition had deteriorated. Britney had not slept since Saturday -- a day and half longer than she stayed up in recent memory.

The reason she's at UCLA is her new treating psychiatrist practices out of that medical center.

We're told during her initial 72-hour stay she cannot be forced to take medication against her will. If, however, she refuses to take meds, the plan is for the the psych to go to court and have Britney held for an additional 14 days, during which time he can administer proper medications.

And get this ironic twist -- Lynne Spears and Adnan drove to the Medical Center in the same car. A source tells us when Lynne found out Britney was being committed, she blamed it on Sam and was extremely agitated. When Brit heard that, she screamed to her mother, "Shut the hell up."

Source: TMZ

Britney Being Treated For Her Disease

The following italicized article is taken from www.tmz.com:

If you think Britney Spears doesn't give a crap about getting help for her condition, think again.

Multiple sources tell TMZ Britney has seen numerous doctors. We know that she's seen a new psychiatrist who has come to her home every day this week and that she's on medication to treat her bipolar disease. We also know doctors have indeed concluded she suffers from bipolarity.

Britney has seen doctors who have been referred by other doctors, plus doctors who have been referred by celebrities Britney knows, and doctors referred by her lawyers, family and friends. We're told the process has been excruciating for her, partly because her disease is severe.

Sources tell slightly different stories about the efficacy of the medication. A friend says when Britney takes her medicine she is like "a different person -- normal and sweet." But she takes her meds for a while and then feels as if she can live without it -- so she stops taking them -- and her condition quickly deteriorates. But a professional tells TMZ flatly, "The medication just isn't working."

That same professional tells TMZ, "She's really trying. Whether it works -- we'll have to see." That person also says it's extremely frustrating when the media shows video of Britney out on the town acting crazy, adding, "She has a disease. Sometimes when you see her she's in the middle of an episode. It's like mocking someone with Down syndrome."

Source: TMZ