Trial by Deliberation: The Paradox of Postpartum Psychosis in the Courtroom As the jury deliberates in the case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of murdering her three young children while suffering from postpartum psychosis, a complex dynamic is unfolding.
Advocates argue that mental health conditions should be taken into account when determining guilt or innocence, but others fear this defense trivializes the severity of postpartum psychosis and undermines accountability.
In 2018, Massachusetts amended its laws to include postpartum psychosis as a possible defense for mothers accused of violent crimes against their children.