Responding to criticism over a show he planned for Tuesday regarding the intervention of troubled pop singer Britney Spears, Dr. Phil McGraw has put the brakes on the broadcast.

According to TMZ.com, which was critical of McGraw's visit with Spears in a Los Angeles hospital over the weekend, McGraw has issued a statement about what he had planned for the broadcast.

"As was widely reported this weekend, at the request of concerned family members, I visited Britney Spears in the hospital," McGraw said on his Web site Monday. "The details of that visit will, of course, remain private. We had planned to tape a Dr. Phil Now show today, focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney's latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case."

McGraw added that the Spears situation "is too intense at this time" to move forward with the show, and "out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time. Britney and her family are in our prayers, and we ask that they be in yours."

Earlier Monday, TMZ slammed McGraw for visiting Spears without her consent.

"Britney didn't ask for it, Britney didn't know about it," TMZ.com managing editor Harvey Levin said.

Levin also said that Spears walked out when McGraw walked in.

Spears was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by paramedics Thursday night after police were called to her home because of a dispute involving the two sons she had with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

McGraw said that he eventually did meet with Spears for about an hour, although sources told TMZ that the meeting was about 15 minutes long.

McGraw told "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" that she's in "dire need" of medical and psychological help.

TMZ said that it spoke with eight psychiatrists who don't think McGraw should have been allowed in to see Spears when he doesn't have in-patient privileges. One said, "It's a total violation of her rights." Another was "outraged and disgusted," and added, "It is incredible that the hospital allowed Dr. Phil in her room. It's a total violation of her rights."

In response to the criticism, McGraw said on CBS' "Early Show" that he was contacted by Spears' family.

"Thursday night, the phone rang, it was Lynne, clearly she was very upset. Any parent would be," McGraw said, according to TMZ. "I was first contacted by her family a year ago, and had maintained a running dialogue for the last year or so."

TMZ is also disputing McGraw's claims in a press release that he "walked with" Spears to her car after the purported hour-long meeting.

"We're told Phil was doing almost all the talking," the site said. "As for walking with her to the car on her way out -- again, as his release states -- we're told if he was walking behind her, that's news to her. She absolutely was not accompanied by him."

Also criticizing McGraw is truTV host Star Jones, who told NBC's "Today" show that Spears doesn't need help from the likes of McGraw.

Jones said that Spears shouldn't be seen by "a television psychologist," she should be seen by "somebody who'll take care of her."

Not everybody is dismissing McGraw's efforts. Television pop psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers told TMZ that McGraw did the right thing.

"Therapy is enormously helpful and important," Brothers said. "If she can be helped by it, and Dr. Phil can get recognition for the importance of therapy, then a lot of good can come of it."