Opening statements began Monday in the Massachusetts murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse charged with strangling her three children in 2023. Prosecutors and defense attorneys agree on the facts of the deaths but differ on whether postpartum psychosis should exempt her from criminal responsibility.
The case centers on the rare condition, which affects an estimated 1 to 2 women per 1,000 after delivery. Experts describe it as a mental health emergency that can cause hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and sudden shifts in behavior.
Dr. Julia Riddle, a reproductive psychiatrist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, told CBS News that symptoms can wax and wane, making diagnosis difficult. She noted that many women experiencing the condition are reluctant to disclose their thoughts.
Clancy and her ex-husband have filed separate lawsuits alleging her medical providers failed to properly diagnose and treat the disorder. Postpartum psychosis is distinct from the more common postpartum depression and requires inpatient care that may include medication or electroconvulsive therapy.