Spears’ Parents Fear For Her Life

(AP) — Britney Spears’ parents said Wednesday they believe the pop star’s life is at risk following her early release from a hospital psychiatric ward over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist.

In a joint statement given to The Associated Press by their attorney, Jamie and Lynne Spears said they were “extremely disappointed” to learn their daughter had been released.

“As parents of an adult child in the throes of a mental health crisis, we were extremely disappointed this morning to learn that over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist, our daughter Britney was released from the hospital that could best care for her and keep her safe,” the statement said.

“We are deeply concerned about our daughter’s safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk. There are conservatorship orders in place created to protect our daughter that are being blatantly disregarded. We ask only that the court’s orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted.”

After Spears’ release, which came a week earlier than expected, she spent the day dodging paparazzi as she drove around Los Angeles in a black Mercedes-Benz with an unidentified man.

Paparazzi vehicles zoomed around the Mercedes and photographers surrounded the vehicle at each stop. More than 15 people circled the car at one point, shooting still photos and video. Spears’ vehicle, however, was observing traffic laws, the helicopter pilot reported.

At one point the Mercedes pulled into the Beverly Hills Hotel entrance. Beverly Hills police Sgt. Mark Miner said a “keep the peace” detail was sent to the hotel, a common practice when paparazzi are causing a nuisance.

Spears’ release came after a series of legal developments in which her father fought for control of the pop star and her estate, her frequent companion was ordered to stay away from her, and her mother vividly described her daughter’s fragile state, drug use and the strange behavior that led to her hospitalization.

The troubled singer was hospitalized Jan. 31 and held for a 72-hour evaluation that was originally set to expire Sunday. Her stay was then extended for two weeks, a person close to the pop star told The Associated Press.

The expectation that she would remain hospitalized may explain how she avoided paparazzi on her way out.

Until Feb. 14, Spears remains under the conservatorship of her father, an arrangement created when a judge determines a person can no longer care for herself or her personal affairs. James Spears was named her conservator Monday, and he and attorney Andrew Wallet were made co-conservators of the estate.

As her conservator, Spears’ father has been granted access to all of her medical records and authority to determine where Spears lives and who she sees.

Spears, who is in a child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, was also briefly hospitalized earlier in January after police were called to her home when she refused to return her sons to a Federline bodyguard after a visit. That trip to the hospital occurred amid a swarm of paparazzi.

Spears has since lost all visitation rights to her sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

On Friday, a court issued a restraining order against Sam Lutfi, who’s been at Spears’ side in recent months after the singer’s mother declared that he held her daughter hostage in her own home, drugged her, took over her finances and controlled the paparazzi. Lutfi was ordered to stay away from Spears, her homes and her parents’ and siblings’ homes.

The singer has been in a spiral of increasingly bizarre behavior since November 2006, when she filed for divorce from Federline.