The Lindsay Clancy trial raises a difficult question at the intersection of medicine and law: Was she experiencing postpartum psychosis, or did she understand and plan her actions? In this episode of Dr. Lawyer Breakdown, Dr. Joseph Ramos and host Bradford Keaty examine the evidence both sides are asking the jury to believe.

Dr. Joseph Ramos, a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician and the owner/lead attorney of Ramos Law Firm, explains the differences between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, including the hallucinations and delusions that can accompany a break from reality. They also discuss Clancy’s mental health history, the medications found in her system, the competing interpretations of that evidence and the role expert witnesses may play in the jury’s decision.

From the legal side, the conversation explores premeditation, criminal responsibility, the differences between first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter, and what the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. They also consider the broader implications of the case for maternal mental healthcare, medical providers and mothers who may be afraid to ask for help.

This episode was recorded before the jury reached a verdict. Listen for a doctor-lawyer perspective on one of the most medically and legally complex trials in the national conversation.

Content warning: This episode discusses the deaths of children, suicide and severe maternal mental illness.