Woman on Dr. Phil about son’s death while playing online

Talk about it

Liz Woolley was able to tell the story to Dr. Phil McGraw about her son committing suicide while playing an online game, but she’s still miffed about some things his show will likely leave out.

The former Hudson woman was a guest on the show, which dealt with addictions to such games and explored the situation of a couple whose child is obsessed with them. Woolley got to describe her son’s similar situation, and self-inflicted gunshot wound after hours playing EverQuest, and interjected comments while the talk show host offered advice and asked questions.

But despite Woolley’s repeated promptings, the show’s producers failed to describe her non-profit group, On-Line Gamers Anonymous, which gives help to those addicted, she said. “I was shocked. I had spent three days getting together that information and sent it to him.”

Woolley had her photo taken with Dr. Phil and at that time reiterated the fact that she runs a group to help addicted gamers. “Then he’s like, ‘What? You have an organization?’”

However, the existence of that photo should give her group some added clout, Woolley said. “It’s already up on our message board.”

Pertinent information such as its Web site address was, however, posted on a screen in the background behind her, without comment, during two of her interview segments. Woolley said she was relieved that she was not made to be the star of the show.

Judy Park, one of the show’s producers, said that they’ll still be in the process of editing until shortly before the episode airs, and that things such as the amount of time a guest is given can be expanded. That can include addition of a second hour-long episode on a topic, she said.

The Web site is www.olganon.org. The show was taped in late August and is scheduled to air on Oct. 20.

Tags: news, hudson, dr_phil, woolley, online_game, suicide