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Lindsay Clancy trial begins in test of postpartum psychosis defense
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Lindsay Clancy, a former nurse from Massachusetts, is on trial for the murder of her three children, whom she strangled 19 days after being discharged from psychiatric care for postpartum psychosis.
- Prosecutors argue Clancy planned the killings and should be held fully responsible, while her defense claims she was suffering from a rare, severe mental illness linked to childbirth that impaired her judgment.
- Postpartum psychosis affects 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery and can include hallucinations and delusions, but most affected women do not harm their children.
- The case draws parallels to past high-profile instances where mothers with postpartum psychosis were found not guilty by reason of insanity, highlighting ongoing debates about criminal responsibility and mental illness.
- Advocates emphasize postpartum psychosis as a serious medical condition rather than criminal behavior, noting that few states consider it a mitigating factor in sentencing, with Illinois being a notable exception.
