Dr. Phil’s testimony in front of Texas lawmakers last week was rather unexpected and had people wondering whether he is in fact a “real doctor”.
The celebrity TV host’s appearance at the hearing came after Death Row inmate Robert Roberson’s scheduled execution was temporarily blocked last week. A bipartisan group of lawmakers believe that Roberson is innocent of the murder of his daughter Nikki Curtis, and they issued a subpoena in an attempt to delay proceedings on Wednesday (October 16).
Roberson’s case for innocence hinges on a number of factors – primarily about questions Dr. Phil McGraw has raised in the past about outdated medical science and the potential for the inmate’s wrongful conviction.
(Image: Innocence Project/AFP via Getty)
“I am 100 percent convinced that we are facing a miscarriage of justice here,” McGraw told the committee about Roberson’s case. “I say that because I do not believe that Mr. Roberson has had due process in this case. I do not believe he has yet enjoyed a fair trial in this matter.”
Following McGraw’s publicised speech in support of Roberson, viewers were left asking what well-known ‘doctor’ was there for, and whether or not he was a real doctor.
(Image: Texas Department of Criminal Jus)
People flocked to give their takes on McGraw’s testimony aired by WFAA on YouTube. “Why? He’s a TV entertainment ‘dr’,” someone asked. Another simply chimed: “Doctor?”
Others were quick to defend McGraw in the comment section, pointing out that he did in fact “holds a doctorate degree, hence earning the Title of ‘Dr’.
Another person said: “Umm, you might do a little research, Dr. Phil is an amazingly over accomplished educated person, even air nautical expert. So much so he’s not a tv Dr.”
“I’m not a medical doctor,” McGraw once told Steve-O on a podcast earlier this year. “But I am a ‘doctor’ – I did my PhD in clinical psychology.”
Roberson, who was scheduled to appear in Austin on Monday, did not show up, missing another chance to fight for his life and challenge his death sentence.
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