Susan Boyle ITV in the spotlight after 'exhausted' Susan Boyle checks into private clinic Experts voice concerns about the level of care provided for contestants such as Susan Boyle on reality TV shows
Tuesday 2 June 2009 00.01 BST
The chief medical officer at a private clinic where Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle is being assessed after she was admitted for exhaustion has voiced concerns about the level of care provided for contestants on reality television shows.
Chris Thompson, a psychiatrist at the Priory in London, said yesterday that sudden fame such as that experienced by Boyle could destroy self-esteem if the person was not given adequate support, and he warned that exposing someone to such public attention could be "terribly risky".
"It seems to me a bit like walking out on to a branch and then sawing it off behind you," said Professor Thompson. He added that he believed that production companies had a responsibility to take care of their contestants.
"The fact that Susan Boyle appears to have broken down in some way so close to the end of the series certainly suggests that there is a link.
"I would want to know that people being exposed to such pressures are given proper care."
The 48-year-old had been the clear favourite to win the ITV1 talent show, but was admitted to the Priory in Southgate on Sunday evening after her behaviour had become erratic following her defeat by street dance act Diversity.
Even the prime minister was prompted to express his concern for her health.
Scotland Yard confirmed that on Sunday police had been called at 6pm to a central London hotel where doctors were assessing a woman under the Mental Health Act.
"The woman was taken voluntarily by ambulance to a clinic," a spokeswoman said. "At the request of doctors, police accompanied the ambulance."
However, it emerged last night that Boyle – who has learning difficulties after being starved of oxygen at birth – had not been psychologically tested by producers before she was allowed on to the show, although psychologists were available to contestants who needed them.............>>>>...........>>>>.............http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/02/susan-boyle-priory-britains-got-talent
I don't think anyone put a gun to Ms Boyle's head to do this. If they consider this exploitation on the program/networks part, than is Disney responsible for Britney Spear's outcome?
There needs to be some personal responsibility. It's all just nonsense!
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