Meltdowns
Britney Sprung from Joint

TMZ has confirmed that Britney Spears has been released from Cedars-Sinai hospital, following an explosive morning in which she was done, done, done with it!

Sources say the hospital released her without notifying any of the principals involved in the ongoing kiddie drama. So, you ask, how could she have been released so quickly, given that she had been declared a danger to herself and others?

We're told the "5150 hold" means that she can be held against her will for a max of 72 hours, but if the hospital determines she is no longer a danger, they can release her before that.

UPDATE: Additional sources now tell TMZ Cedars absolutely made the decision on its own -- without consulting any of the lawyers in the case. We're told it is Cedars policy (and the policy of other California hospitals) to evaluate whether the "danger" has subsided at any point during the 72-hour hold.

As we have reported, even though there is significant evidence that Brit has a bipolar disorder, Cedars cannot hold her against her will to treat such a problem. If doctors determine she is no longer a danger, they must let her go -- pure and simple.



Reader Comments

(Page 24 of 24) Previous 15 Comments

346. Come on people! did you SEE those pictures of brit being strapped down and placed in the ambulance? And she was smiling, even laughing. She did not have a breakdown, and no amount of booze in the world has that effect. She's been at that Crystal Meth again, you can tell by that crazed look in the eye and that clenched jaw. if it is true that she was smoking/snorting meth while in custody of her kids, than she really is nuts. I'm not a brit hater, and I don't think this stuff is funny anymore. It is getting too dark and depressing for comic relief. The blood tests taken at Ceders will show what was really up. If she was "crazy" or bi-polar as people claim, they would not have released her so quickly. If it was an overdose, they would have released her after she was out of physical danger. Think about it. she needs to go to Europe, or Japan for a year, and get her head together. I hope she makes it...

Posted at 1:47PM on Jan 6th 2008 by booty_ho_nicole

347.

Well, this will prove to be interesting.....

You can lead a horse to water and all....


Posted at 4:21PM on Jan 6th 2008 by OCD

348. You can't hold an adult against their will EVER FOR ANY REASON. She is 26 years old and you can't legally make her stay in the hospital. If that was the case anyone anywhere could be held against their will including all you people posting that the hospital was wrong to let her go. One of the most difficult things to do for people who are mentally ill is to get them help. They don't think anything is wrong!! They aren't thinking clearly!!

Posted at 4:33PM on Jan 6th 2008 by badjuju

349. I dare the state and the hospital to prove it! Prove it that she's allegedly BIPOLAR,

Cedars held her hostage and should be charged with Kidnapping plain and simple, everyone get your NOSES out
of other peoples business....

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Posted at 4:42PM on Jan 6th 2008 by The NAR

350.
THE HOSPITAL SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING.... it's so obvious, we just witnessed the hospital commit a HUGE CRIME people!

This is not are we treat American citizens ... Her CIVIL rights are being VIOLATED, and all of ours can be VIOLATED as well

Posted at 5:02PM on Jan 6th 2008 by The NAR

351. How dare the State of California, the lawyers, and the Hospital make frivolous allegations that she has "some sort of mental illness"

So it's that easy? anyone can say anything about anyones mental health and have them kidnapped, held hostage by a so called "Hospital" ? What kind of country is America becoming a NAZI state.... Geez

It's all contrived bullcrap so they can take her kids away from her...How dare they SHAME on California and the Hospital,
and SHAME on Dr. Phil , He's a DING DANG psychopath himself , it just so happens he's on T.V.

Posted at 11:06PM on Jan 6th 2008 by The NAR

352. Brits problems are not a result of K-Fed. She was probably looking for someone to trust after all who does she have? a mother that pimped her out from the start and only sees her as $$$$. This girl never really had a chance. The mental illness was probably always there but subdued. Mine wasnt diagnosed properly until I was 32. Without medication people with bi polar will act out irrationally. And having noone to trust to turn to doesnt help.Until she gets help if the media attention stopped it could be devastating to her. She craves the attention and if she doesnt get it then what lengths will she go to next ? suicide perhaps. She has basically lost everything. Her parents well she never had them unless she was bringing in money. KFed I think she really did love him but she was probably so out of control at home who could deal with her. and I think he only saw brit as a cash cow but at least he is taking care of the boys.She is only going to get worse without help.But this is another example of why you should let your children be children instead of celebrities

Posted at 8:01PM on Jan 6th 2008 by dadadaadadada

353. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO SERIOUISLY RE EVALUATE THEIR JUSTICE SYSTEM! DRUNK DRIVERS GO FREE WITH LITTTLE TO NO REPURCUSSIONS, (NICOLE RICHIE, PARIS HILTON, LINDSY LOHAN, AND MANY OTHERS) PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND WITHOUG VALID LICENSES, (BRITNEY SPEARS, MISCHA BARTON) AND MOTHERS PUTTING THEIR KIDS IN JEAPOARDY!!!!

hAD THIS BEEN A REGULAR CITIZEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IT FOR THEM, BUT SINCE ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE MONEY AND ARE SO CALLED CELEBRITIES, THEY MANAGE TO GET AWAY WITH LITERALLY MURDER..(OJ SIMPSON)

IN MY, YOU GET A DUI, U GET LOCKED UP, YOU DRIVE WITHOUT A VALID LICENS, YOU GET LOCKED UP AND FINED, YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN THE SITUATION BRITNEY SPEARS DID, THEY TAKE THEM AWAY AND LOCK YOU UP!

THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN LA IS HORRIFIC!!!!

Posted at 9:20AM on Jan 9th 2008 by Davdor

354. Ok, down here in FL we have something called the "Baker Act" which is basically the same thing as a 5150. I've been "Baker Acted" numerous times, and I can tell you from many years of experince that no one gets out in the same time as Ms. Spears did. Personally I think the only reason she got out so quickly is because of her "celeb" status. Had it been a common person that did the same thing, they'd still be sitting in that hospital getting the help they need. She obvivously needs more help than what "Dr. Phill" can offer, and needs to be hospitalized to get it. She needs medication and serious therapy. Those poor children are going to be in therapy for a long time after having that train-wreck for a "mother" and especially after what happened last week.

Posted at 4:06AM on Jan 8th 2008 by Beth

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