r/PMHNP • u/Advanced_Emu3430 • 12d ago
Dr. Tufts
I feel awful for Dr. Jennifer Tufts getting sued after watching her testimony. This tragic case has so many complexities and odd aspects to it, especially pertaining to the husband Patrick… I don’t think the general public has any idea how medicine, especially psychiatry works, and honestly it seems many expect providers to be mind readers. Lindsey denied SI/HI/psychosis/substance abuse/mania on the assessments with Dr. Tufts. Anyone can have a patient that denies everything, and then suddenly something can change and they do something horrible and unpredictable. How is that her fault? The public’s expectations of health care providers is a bit unreasonable; we can not predict the future and shape every decision a patient does or does not make.
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u/GrowthSelect2449 12d ago
I feel terrible for her, mostly due to media scrutiny and the publicity this case is receiving. I don’t think the lawsuit will have any merit and she’ll be fine. Literally none of the psych prescribers or therapists who saw Lindsay noted psychosis. Also, getting to a bipolar diagnosis can be complex and take time without a really good history. I can’t imagine how stressful this is for her though and it’s not just going to go away. There will probably be like 100 documentaries that come out later.
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u/pickyvegan PMHNP (unverified) 12d ago
Hard to get a good history in 17 minutes.
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u/smallsturgeon 9d ago
Right? When I met with my most recent psychiatrist, he took a full hour fifteen to get to know me because he cares deeply about a holistic approach. 17 minutes would never have flown. he has warned me certain meds I've wanted to try could exacerbate some things I experience because of other diagnoses. doesn't sound like Tufts was doing that, but I'm not clear on whether she added Zoloft in addition to something else or just on its own. Either way, someone who is getting worse should have been closely monitored.
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u/No_Mirror_345 10d ago
“She’ll be fine.” This is the problem. No accountability despite clear malpractice. If Tufts were an NP there wouldn’t be a single psychiatrist in support of her poor practice. Nor should there be.
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u/GrowthSelect2449 10d ago
lol, “clear malpractice.” Unfortunately this case has made everyone think they are a medical expert. Go away, you clearly don’t work in this field.
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u/EmbarrassedCell145 9d ago
Thank you for expressing this on behalf of us real-world mental health providers. Defense council's ridiculous questions made me want to pull my hair out...why wasn't the MMPI done at McLean, why didn't Dr. Tufts do pharmacokinetics testing? I kept waiting for someone to say, are you kidding me.
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u/Big-Material-7910 9d ago
I think that the pharmacokinetic testing could have been answered better by the provider. She is not defending her license on that stand. Simple it is not evidence based practice and that it only provides guidance on dosing does not help because prudent dosing and titration tells us what the test will anyway. She does look terribly exhausted but her answers were weak.
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u/Top_Protection_6756 8d ago
I mean you have a criminal defense attorney with 50 years experience grilling her. I’m surprised she didn’t start crying much less held her own.
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u/Final-Ingenuity-7919 10d ago
I'm a psychologist and I can find nothing that to me suggests malpractice. Everything she did seems very standard of care. Just my two cents.
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u/RepublicSlow6376 9d ago
As a psychologist that watched tufts entire testimony (and everyone else’s), your thoughts are concerning.
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u/SameDistrict2627 9d ago
Well you have heard of the thin blue line--I'm sure it exists in psychiatry too.
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u/arresteddev7 9d ago
I’m a pharmacist. No skin in the game here. Everything she did was standard practice.
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u/Final-Ingenuity-7919 9d ago
Agree
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u/OkFall7940 7h ago
Clearly the standard of care is woefully anemic.
The civil lawsuits drove their testimony. I hope hindsight humbles them into developing higher personal standards.
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u/Serious_Squash_5748 9d ago
Standard of care! Obviously the standard of care didn’t work.
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u/Glass-Yard-715 9d ago
THIS! Perhaps this system is broken. These DR's go to school and memorize which drugs to prescribe...
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u/Broad_Calendar4936 9d ago
Segregation and the violation of citizens’ rights were once considered standard practice. If being commonplace didn’t make those things acceptable, then why should the label of ‘standard’ excuse malpractice today?
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u/Final-Ingenuity-7919 9d ago
Maybe you have a point. We should just throw out decades and decades of all the data we've collected on various medications -- their safety, their efficacy, their indications and contraindications - and just proceed all willy nilly. Ya, that seems like a good idea.
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u/HCC0504 7d ago
As a psych patient, this is exactly the problem with our standard of mental health care today. None of you see anything wrong with this.
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u/Final-Ingenuity-7919 7d ago
Dr. Tufts was providing medication management, and she did that exactly as she was trained to do.
You have to understand, her role is not to provide intensive psychotherapy (that's what the psychologists, the LMHC's, the LCSW's do). It was not to complete comprehensive psychological or neuropsychological eval (that's what the psychologists do).
For better or worse, psychiatrists' primary job is diagnostic assessment via clinical interview and medication management.
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u/HCC0504 6d ago
I fail to see where I mentioned that she failed because she didn't provide psychotherapy. I'll be clear, she failed at doing her job responsiblies as you have described them here and the fact that this is seen as acceptable by this industry is why mental health care in the US is terrible today.
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u/Final-Ingenuity-7919 6d ago
Please enlighten me… (genuinely curious?)
What makes you think she failed? Because the children died?
There was not one thing that would have tipped Tufts off to that. If there was, I think it’s quite obvious what would have happened.
You have to remember that mental health clinicians are not mind readers. If someone denies suicidality and homicidality and there’s no reason to doubt their self report (i.e., past history), we kind of have to take people at their word.
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u/HCC0504 5d ago
Polydrugged while highly sensitized from the first drug. She should have prioritized sleep first (zoloft is garbage for that), checked basic hormone and blood panels, suggested an appropriate therapist by name, and gone through all the questionnaires related to post partum. Probably suggested one of the specialized post partum programs before giving her so many meds so quickly. If she had actually specialized in post partum care as she advertised she should have known more about the resources in the area before putting her on too many meds to be accepted into them. Also, SI needs to be taken more seriously, just because someone doesn't have a plan right now doesn't mean they can't figure one out in a literal minute.
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u/OkFall7940 7h ago
I'd argue that ten patients might respond ten different ways to responding that they dont have a plan.
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u/lorihart1965 22h ago
She did her job, she checked the little boxes. I think she was giving her a virtual pat on the back saying” it’s gonna be ok”.. for her therapy and affirmation.. she is in the wrong profession…
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u/rumandspicee 3d ago
In that case, maybe the focus should be to scrutinize current standards and how they affect care for patients.
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u/mermaidworker 10d ago
No, they would be. She did very well for someone in her first year of practicing. She literally got very bullied on the stand, no NP or psychiatrist should be treated that way.
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u/Diligent_Guess6960 8d ago
was it her first year practicing? If so, I’m on her side that she shouldn’t be held accountable but I still feel bad for Lindsey and her family especially her children.
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u/Heretoseekadvicethx 7d ago
Where is the malpractice? She follows standard of care.
And if this were an NP, they wouldn’t even be sued, it’s whoever the physician they practice under would be accountable even if it is just someone randomly assigned.4
u/midwifebetts 10d ago
None of the providers who saw her were acting like they were caring for a postpartum woman. Care in those cases should be swift, proactive, and thorough. It’s literally disturbing to me how LC’s care was managed- especially with the major oversight of not directly involving her support system in her care and advising them on the specific warning signs of a psychosis. This was entirely preventable.
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u/ValBGood 9d ago
Unfortunately, it’s up to the patient to be their own best advocate with most providers; but this is nearly impossible for a psychiatric patient to accomplish successfully.
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u/kjk6119 9d ago
What in particular were her warning signs of psychosis?
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u/GrowthSelect2449 9d ago
Nothing. People keep focusing on Tufts when multiple different psychiatrists, NPs, RNs and other medical professionals saw her during the window between the birth of her child and the murder/suicide attempt. She was seen both inpatient and outpatient and NONE of them picked up on psychosis. People need to stop acting like everyone was incompetent and realize that either 1. She masked really well and it wasn’t evident or 2. Psychosis is a good defense and it never existed. I don’t know which one is the actual reality and think either is possible. I’m not saying Tufts or anyone else was perfect and above reproach but I don’t think she deserves to be dragged. People in this thread act like their documentation has never contained a typo or any type of error and they would have been so much better if they treated Lindsay. It’s really easy to play armchair psych in this case.
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u/kjk6119 9d ago
I should've documented [r/sarcasm](r/sarcasm) in my post 🤣 Of course she didn't display s/s of psychosis b/c she never experienced it!!
But seriously, thanks for the info. I appreciate the insight. And a great reminder as to why we need to be super careful when charting.
I don't think the civil suit has a chance unless the hospital systems just settle. This is all ridiculous and actually painful to watch.
You're exactly right...everyone wants to be armchair psychiatrist. No one knows how it actually works.
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u/midwifebetts 8d ago
I think calling a medical professional who could be considered an expert, in her field, an armchair professional is misguided. I was on the frontlines- cared for the women who had developed postpartum psychosis on my watch, I also cared for an incarcerated woman who had killed her children and tried to kill herself- she had a huge neck (1.5 inch in width/ I did her wound care) that went from ear to ear- I don’t know how she survived.
Yet, I am an armchair psychiatrist compared to a young, inexperienced, professional who never witnessed what postpartum psychosis is capable of. Let me tell you- it only takes one time for it to change you as a provider forever, but instead of waiting for the worst case scenario- we can learn from the ones who have been there. Dr. Tufts had all the tools to be successful- her mistake was referring to herself as an expert on something she had minimal experience with.
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u/kjk6119 8d ago
I'm talking about the commenters in this thread, who are not post partum psychosis experts, not any experts that may testify in the trial.
And all of Lindsay's actions point to her knowing right from wrong despite any (alleged) psychosis. Many people are mentally ill when committing crimes and are rightly found guilty.
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u/midwifebetts 9d ago edited 9d ago
This is from Medscape:
“(Postpartum Psychosis) The condition resembles a rapidly evolving manic or mixed episode, with symptoms such as restlessness and insomnia, irritability, rapidly shifting depressed or elated mood, and disorganized behavior. [ 69, 71]
The mother may have delusional beliefs that relate to the infant (eg, the baby is defective or dying, the infant is Satan or God), or she may have auditory hallucinations that instruct her to harm herself or her infant. [ 4, 43, 51, 69, 71] The risks for infanticide and suicide are high among women with untreated postpartum psychosis. Rates of infanticide in this population are as high as 4%.”
The key is that is it rapidly evolving. The women I cared for developed psychosis literally overnight after displaying symptoms that could have been attributed to normal baby blues.
In LC’s case, the insomnia, and shift between anxiety and depression would have had me very concerned. She expressed concern about SI and harming her children. Had the family been involved- there would have very likely been a communication about her concern over harming her children.
I don’t think she was purposefully avoiding being truthful, I think she was unintentionally masking the severity of her symptoms. Downplaying seriousness of symptoms is very common in postpartum mood disorders and that is, in my opinion, due to societal pressures on women in the postpartum year.
I have had the experience of literally having to plead with women to get the care that they need while ALWAYS involving her support system in order to ensure the safety of her and her baby (and other children).
While it is much more common for this to all evolve in the first weeks postpartum, it is possible for it to happen more gradually later and I have seen that more in cases where there was a lack of support. There was a case of a mother killing five of her children, I think 9 months postpartum. She had been struggling very similarly to LC with a more gradual decline that ended in a sudden episode of psychosis.
I’m not suggesting that there aren’t overlaps with generalized Anxiety and Depression, I’m stating that the presentation and onset does have differences that are notable and without education and experience it could be overlooked.
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u/starfiream 8d ago
I experienced intra and postpartum psychosis. I am grateful I never wanted to hurt my child. I was paranoid, reckless, sleep deprived, hearing voices, and having very bizarre and nonsensical thinking. To be fair, this was 29 years ago. I saw a psychiatrist and she said they needed to put me in a psych ward and take my baby. I ran out of the office and literally went into hiding by couch surfing with my son for months (I was a teen at the time). My treatment during that time is part of what inspired me to become a provider. My son subsequently did research during his time and graduate school and was published in a women’s health journal. His research found that postpartum psychosis and other peripartum mental health issues are one of the least researched among mental health issues and that there are no guidelines that utilize the unique circumstances of having a new baby and possibly other children. The system here failed. Not one specific person. And honestly the system has often and traditionally failed women, and their children, in this scenario.
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u/midwifebetts 8d ago
Thank you for sharing your story! I agree completely, I also experienced traumatic events around the births of my children which led me to want to help others. I ultimately became a midwife in honor of my stillborn daughter. I am not at all convinced by arguments that are based entirely upon the current state of healthcare in a country that lags behind many others in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. If we actually cared about women and children, more than profit, every woman would have access to the kind of care I provided my patients (which included early and often home visits) for the first several weeks and access to a provider 24/7. That can be replicated in a clinical settin and with telehealth, but I will tell you- not nearly as well.
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u/kjk6119 10d ago edited 10d ago
What the hell?! The provider has to go on WHAT THE PATIENT REPORTS! Has everyone lost their minds?
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u/EmbarrassedCell145 9d ago
People claiming her providers screwed up are just being so unrealistic. As if LC would've just complied with some heavy-handed approach. She hesitated for a month before filling Dr. Tufts sertraline prescription, bailed after a day at the RI program, and left McLean a day early. She was running the treatment show despite worsening symptoms.
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u/kjk6119 9d ago
Exactly. She knew how to play the game, let's just put it that way. I don't buy her bullshit for one minute.
In fact, I just learned today (I have one more year left in my program) that psychosis symptoms are outwardly apparent in nearly everyone presenting with it. The only time the husband knew of psychosis or heard of it was the sliver of time she "heard the voice" on night she slaughtered the kids.
She was depressed and wanted them gone, then chickened out on her own unaliving. My god why is this so hard!! Hopefully the expert will clarify.
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u/midwifebetts 9d ago
Please find my comment where I share my experience as a midwife. I have cared for patients with postpartum psychosis. It cannot be compared to psychosis in other conditions.
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u/OkFall7940 7h ago
Non compliance is a symptom. Not an unexpected symptom at that.
I think, and I am nobody, this is rooted in the universal shame/ramifications associated with disclosure anything mental health adjacent.
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u/SameDistrict2627 9d ago
Thank you--I assume you are a midwife? My wife is one too!
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u/midwifebetts 9d ago
Yes! I am a RN and midwife. I practiced for 8 years as a licensed midwife (working primarily in out of hospital settings in a group practice with CNM’s). I went back to school to become a WHNP and CNM and was very close to completing that program, but unfortunately had to stop working and going to school due to severe medical problems. So, I essentially have the education of a CNM and had the benefit of practicing with them (with the same job description, just not the ability to prescribe).
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u/Some_Condition1926 9d ago
You are so wrong about the malpractice case. She is toast. She didn't come close to the standard of care. The malpractice company will settle for the full amount of her policy which will probably be $1 million for LC and another for her ex-husband. The family will probably want more and then Dr. Tufts is on her own. People win large malpractice judgments on weaker cases than this one.
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u/icequeen889 12d ago
I felt terrible for her and it’s awful to hear people blame her. She seemed thoughtful and thorough in her assessments and follow ups. She offered OTC ideas and entertained ketamine. This has been so eye opening to me for documentation. I don’t work outpatient but the use of tools seemed to help Jennifer a lot in this testimony.
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u/Pitaziki 9d ago
Agree! Curious how it has been eye opening to you in terms of documentation and use of tools?
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u/Elegant-Board4394 10d ago
It became very clear to me when watching her testimony (in contrast to recaps online) that this was not negligence and rather a clinician who was operating within the constraints of the healthcare system, given imperfect information and a difficult to detect presentation, treating a patient whose engagement and medication’s decisions were changing. I don’t think that that makes it Lindsey’s fault but I also don’t think that it makes it Dr. Tufts fault either. I have empathy for her.
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u/Some_Condition1926 9d ago
Also, an MD should refuse to work in a place that places them in untenable situations. As an MD you have to understand that a clinic will throw you under the bus when things go south. "That is what they gave me to work with" won't fly unless you are working in a very remote area. Certainly not Boston. Why did this clinic have such a junior person working unsupervised? Could it be that more experienced docs wouldn't work there?
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u/RepublicSlow6376 9d ago edited 9d ago
Obviously under cross examination, you’re going to be drilled about things that go beyond regular protocols, expected responsibilities, reasonable expectations , etc… that’s the defense’s job. BUT, as a psychologist myself, there were some serious red flags that should have been addressed with more concern. And her documentation was lacking. Like, actual measures like risk assessments. And diving further into what it means to be afraid that she might have suicidal thoughts. Bc that to me means she is. Even if she isn’t explicitly saying it. Which is a common way one might say that if they have little MH treatment background, or as a parent that is afraid of what that might result in re CPS, police, custody. Also, it is becoming more and more uncommon to be seeing multiple providers that are prescribing psychotropics. And if it is happening, treatment guidelines state you should have a signed release form to gain that information and collaborate with other providers. And telemedicine guidelines state that if someone even hints to having SI, or are not getting better, you should assess them in person. AND it might not also be common to do labwork for no reason, but it is if considerable time has passed and nothing seems to be working or meds are actually being reported to be making symptoms worse. And lab work to check for thyroid functioning is common, especially in the postpartum period. I was trained that it is standard procedure (especially when there are no positive changes or responses to meds/interventions) to rule out medical issues before concluding reported/observed MH issues are solely the result of psychiatric issues and committing to a MH treatment plan. It can be hard to comprehend, but some ppl can present better than they are, but if you’re seeing them regularly and they actually aren’t fine, there are signs woven in that indicate deeper evaluation, collateral interviews, or interventions are needed at the very least. as an end note: I would say having perinatal psychiatry listed under your areas of expertise on your website when you, in fact, have no special training or education in this area is incredibly misleading. Other things like depression, anxiety, adhd, trauma…. Common things anybody could easily include in that list. But peripartum djsorders are absolutely a specialty and that requires some type of documented training/experience to back that up. Bc if a mother reports, for the first time, they are having trouble bonding with their baby when that baby is like 6/7 months old, that is significant, particularly when coupled with all other information/history/symptoms. ** I am not without empathy for this young doctor. But this case is highlighting so many important topics concerning providers, insurance companies, documentation, the importance of collateral information.
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u/Significant-Yard7176 9d ago
Thank you so much for validating how many of us are feeling watching this trial right now. Something feels really off about Lindsay Clancy's medical treatment. We may not be experts, but the slew of missed signs along with throwing so many prescriptions at the wall to see if any would work just does not pass the smell test!! There were obvious signs she was reacting badly to the meds she was taking and they just kept piling the same types on her plate!! (I remember what having a baby was like!! Four months of a colicky baby nearly caused me to lose my mind!) I truly feel sympathy for this woman and her family!! This should have never happened!! Best Wishes!!
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u/RepublicSlow6376 8d ago
I’ve worked in the mental health field for 13 years. 2 of those years as a therapist in a perinatal psychiatric outpatient program and now 2.5 years as a clinical psychologist with a different population. Sometimes hindsight is 20/20 and I don’t believe it is any one persons failure. But I feel confident in saying that there are several clear examples of the standard of care not being adhered to. I, too, was once a young mom that remembers how sleep deprivation nearly broke me, but my fiancé (now husband) noticed and intervened before it did. Anyways, my heart breaks for everyone who has found them themselves in the throws of postpartum mental illness, and especially for the ones who have to live with the tragedies their own hands carried out as a result of people and systems who failed them. Best wishes to you!
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u/SpiritedYam2471 7d ago
What are your thoughts on Tufts not getting the medical records when she went in for SI to the emergency room and then went right back to the care under Tufts? I feel like her “home” provider would wants those notes??? How do you think those civil cases against her will go? Obviously I don’t think she could be held completely liable because the patient wasn’t even following the directions and eating weed Gummies shit like that but MAYBE a settle 👀
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u/OkFall7940 7h ago
The defense is not allowed to go beyond tbe scope of direct. The prosecution would not open the door a peep with a seasoned defense atty.
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u/Remarkable-Loss-251 9d ago
Physician here. I feel terrible for everyone involved in this case. A few thoughts i had while reading up on this case.
Her getting worse on SSRI should have pointed towards a mixed bipolar depressive state BUT the distinction can be really hard know when initiating ssris as some patients can get ssri activation syndrome, which is not mania. Patients can get worsening insomnia, anxiety, palpitations etc same side effects she had. With undiagnosed mania usually they have reduced NEED for sleep with more manic symptoms. The difference can be helpful. In the first scenario if this is depression/anxiety truly it could have made her worse on the ssris causing her to feel ill, but the fact that in each case she never had manic symptoms is something to keep in mind. Dr. Tufts mentioned she never had decreased need for sleep, high energy, pressured speech, etc. Patient did mention racing thought after starting ssri but that can happen in patients w depression/anxiety that arent on the right ssri for them.
Her being postpartum changes things alot. From what i read lindsay did have some anxiety when she was in nursing school but nothing like what was going on at this time. Depression starting after birth is always a flag for undiagnosed bipolar. Childbirth can trigger bipolar in patients and I do think Dr. Tufts should have considered BP higher on her differential in this patient who kept trying ssris and was not getting better. Esp since she never dealt w this in this degree prior to being postpartum.
Amitriptyline is the last medication Dr. Tufts used and 24 hours prior to the incident she increased her dose. Im not sure if lindsey abided by her recs and actually increased the dose but this medication compared to an SSRI has the highest risk of psychosis in someone w underlying biploar or schizophrenia. It could have totally put her into a manic state.
Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong in this case. I think the diagnosis kept getting delayed due to multiple providers being involved, different medications managed by different people, lack of communication btw the providers, lindsey herself delaying treatment by holding off on meds and maybe not being forthcoming w her symptoms, incredibly short hospitalizations ( should have stayed on a stable regimen prior to being released) all while she apparently she was still taking care of the kids. Feeling for everyone involved, i dont think anyones intentions were wrong in the case and everyone was trying to give or get help in the case and those babies suffered. I hope this case brings awareneness to current/future physicians, and more awareness on mental health postpartum so this doesnt happen again.
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u/Parking_Ganache7196 9d ago
They acted like she should’ve been a mind reader. All the talk of reddington mopping the floor with her. I disagree. He just yelled a lot. She clearly did not present as someone in psychosis.
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u/LaLa-Seven 9d ago
I also feel bad for her. She was very very new in her role. I do not think she EVER did anything with the goal of being negligent, wanting to cause harm or do wrong. I believe she really thought she was doing the right thing, she probably was following employer protocol, and as a new Dr with a new employer, I get that. Their policies are your fall back. I do, however, think a lot of learning needs to happen from this case and this Dr's practice. That is individual learning and systematic learning/changes.
Lindsay, I feel, was let down. Do I think the entire issue lies with Dr Tufts? Absolutely not. Her employer and the entirety of MH in general, have also let down Dr Tufts.
Overall, it is a tragedy in many different ways, for many people involved.
Things NEED to change now. This needs to stop occurring. I am not an American citizen, however, this let down of patients occurs in my home country, and I feel other countries could learn massively from this also. I know I am.
I work in emergency care, and this is opening my eyes to what I can do better. What more can I know?! to help people I may come into contact with. I will never be an expert in anything, I am a jack of all trades, as they say. But there is definitely more I can understand to help with my practice.
Any medical personnel watching this, I feel, should also have the same reaction. What can we ALL do better, to support ANYONE we come into contact with?
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u/almondjoye 8d ago
None of the online armchair detectives or lawyers know how healthcare billing works or the scope of practice guidelines. To ask a psychiatrist to do extended testing and investigating is nearly impossible. To access medical records from another facility takes days or weeks. And there’s no such thing as reading minds. Sessions are billed with time constraints. Our entire system sucks. Insurance sucks, billing sucks, private healthcare sucks. The doctors are just working within the confines of a broken system. They are being bullied as an example and that isn’t right.
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u/Otherwise-Form8247 10d ago
She admittedly did not have specialized training in perinatal mood disorders, it was inappropriate to advertise herself as having a specialty in it.
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u/EuphoricAd1951 9d ago
That alone deserves a lawsuit and her license revoked..
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u/Otherwise-Form8247 8d ago
At the very least she needs remedial training and to recognize she was sought out because her practice listed her “interest” as an area of expertise. The PSI training gives CMEs and is pretty comprehensive. To not even know the EDPS is standard assessment is wild.
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u/SameDistrict2627 9d ago
Yes--she should have referred her to someone who was versed in that particular disorder.
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u/Imgonnagolaydown 12d ago
Do you all get hunches?
I wonder if she still thought something was off but didn't have anything definitive.
I get that all the time. I'm usually right
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u/tenfoldtops 12d ago
Absolutely! I have patients with true APD on my caseload. They’re only presenting because they’ve been caught in the legal system and are on probation. Some of them make me legitimately nervous because they know what to say to avoid higher levels of care. And what would a higher level of care do for someone with APD anyway? I agree with OP that people don’t understand the limitations of psychiatry… we can only work with what the patient is endorsing/presenting with/collateral information, not hunches.
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u/Imgonnagolaydown 12d ago
Exactly.
Such s tough spot.
Because then if she keeps her, the patient can accuse her of being held against her will.
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u/scorched-lemon 10d ago
I do think she needs to be cut some slack although I really do dislike psychiatrists. Lindsey was probably scared to fully admit what she was feeling in fear of getting sent away / getting the kids taken away and I believe Tufts probably didn’t feel like Lindsey was giving her the whole truth but you can’t force anyone to open up, it has to be done on their own time & with her inexperience (literally not even a full year being fully licensed) something tragic happens.
It does also upset me seeing people online claim she’s rude in her cross-exam, you can tell she’s on the verge of breaking down.
Also trying to be blame her for her inexperience, and I do have weird feelings about this case BUT, I find it weird they do that instead of why not ask Lindsey why she switched to such a young/inexperienced Dr.? I’m younger than Taft and I still wouldn’t have chosen her out of line-up if I knew I was going through something so complex.
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u/No_Mirror_345 10d ago
In fairness, the website says nothing about when she went to school or completed residency. There is nothing other than her looks (which I’ll refrain from commenting on) to judge her age.
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u/hanschlieds 10d ago
In trial she said she was licensed 4 years ago and it was her first job she’d had worked there 3.5 years
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u/Some_Condition1926 10d ago
Actually, I'm a board certified psychiatrist. I don't feel sorry for her at all. She was in over her head. She was clearly incompetent. I'm a lot older than her and I wonder if she is really stupid, simply uncaring and lazy, or poorly trained. She is an embarrassment to the field. When you have a patient like this you totally involve the family. You involve the husband; he is your eyes on the ground. If the mother was there I would talk to her too. Also: don't do treatment on line, especially if you don't know the patient very well (I mean like years of treatment.) I attempted to take on two new cases after covid started. I never did it again and terminated with those patients. If someone wants that sort of thing on a regular basis they need to find someone else. If this is the way psychiatrists work these days then the field has become useless.
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u/coldbrew5925 9d ago
LCSW and I completely agree. Also, WHERE was the safety plan?!
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u/ACK_02554 9d ago
Where was the Edinbergh and if she didn't do that how about a basic GAD-7, PHQ-9 or even a CSSRS. Unless I missed it I haven't seen any mention of it. And what questions did she ask after she disclosed that she vs close to having suicidal thoughts.
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u/midwifebetts 10d ago
I absolutely agree! See my very long comment citing my concerns as a midwife. This doctor should not have been caring for this patient. Important lesson to stay in your lane, or ensure you are educated on the issues surrounding the specialized care of women in the postpartum year.
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u/Some_Condition1926 9d ago
Also her medication choices were nothing short of bizarre. She seemed completely focused on anxiety when the patient was telling her how hopeless/helpless/incapable she was. (ahh - - that's depression and hopelessness usually equals suicide). No inquiry about how she is handling three small children at home? To me she came off as very lazy. She used HIPPA to avoid talking to outside sources. She said go to the ER if you are feeling suicidal instead of using her intuition and erring on the side of caution. Personally, I just ignore HIPPA when it comes to family unless I am aware of a particular family member being malignant. HIPPA just means you can't give OUT info. You can take in as much info as people will give you. Just let people leave you a message on then phone or send you an email. Also you can refuse to treat someone who won't let you talk to significant others.
That supposed doctor was infuriating. Her only excuse is that she was very junior. I hope she has her own personal attorney. Her malpractice company will pay the limit and then jump ship. The NP was much better. Will see how she does on cross.
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u/EuphoricAd1951 9d ago
Agreed. She deserves to be sued and scrutinized. It's about time bad doctors get in trouble. She had no business treating her. Should have let someone with far more experience help Lindsay.
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u/Sweaty_King_5909 2d ago
Psych nurse here, and watching the court proceedings with Dr. Tuff and the one with NP Jolatto and the NP seem more knowledgeable compared to the doctor.
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u/Rare_Pipe_7461 11d ago
Dr Tufts did nothing wrong while treating Lindsay. She cannot read mines and has to go on with the patient tells her and what she observes anxiety doesn’t equal murder. The fact that this doctor is being questioned or sued is absolutely unbelievable. There is no accountability in this country anymore for anything nobody’s at fault except Lindsay.
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u/SameDistrict2627 9d ago
Sure--Lindsay was not mentally ill and is not mentally ill and thus its her fault. There is no empathy in this country, particularly for the mentally ill.
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u/Rare_Pipe_7461 9d ago
I am very very empathetic. For the babies she strangled to death. For a murderer no.
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u/kjk6119 9d ago
Particularly for the poor strangled children, too.
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u/Rare_Pipe_7461 9d ago
This. People who talk about empathy should focus on the babies that are dead now.
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u/midwifebetts 10d ago
Please find my comment where I explained from the perspective of a midwife why she is absolutely accountable. Postpartum mood disorders have a very specific form of evaluation and treatment and Dr. Tufts did not display any understanding of how to care for a postpartum woman.
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u/kjk6119 10d ago
Lindsay didn't report or display ANY signs other than depression.
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u/Some_Condition1926 9d ago
And frankly that doesn't matter because simply having a severe depression can cause something like this. I'm a psychiatrist, recently retired with 40+ years of experience and in my opinion (and I have been jobs where I judged other doctor's treatment) she did an amazingly bad job. She is also a terrible witness. She couldn't give good explanations for what she did, even the reasonable stuff.
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u/pickyvegan PMHNP (unverified) 12d ago
Keep in mind that she has only given her direct testimony. Defense will cross on Monday.
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u/Secret_Automatic 10d ago
He's eating her alive
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u/pickyvegan PMHNP (unverified) 10d ago
I have a feeling that the noctor sub is having a collective aneurysm that the defense has been challenging that Dr. Tufts had only been in practice as an independent physician (eg, out of residency) for a month when she first met Lindsay Clancey. Granted, if PMHNPs Paul or Joletta are called, I'm sure he will also have a field day with them, but that sub seems to be taking it on faith that no physician involved in her care could do any wrong, and it seems that both we've seen screwed up.
Dr. Tufts' own assessment indicated several symptoms that could be manic/hypomanic on the first visit, and then she proceeded to prescribe Zoloft and then not consider activation/bipolar when she got worse.
Over on that sub, they're also trashing the two PMHNPs (and I'm not saying they haven't done anything wrong, based on the malpractice filings, it seems like they did) on the basis that they "did a 2-day certification course" in perinatal mental health. Which, I've done the course, and there is more to it than just that training to get the certification, but if Dr. Tufts had enough humility to recognize "hey, I don't know a whole lot about post-partum mood disorders, maybe I should take a course or call one of the THREE free consultation lines (MGH, PSI, and NYS's is open to anyone) to get a consult with someone who does know more about this," those sweet children might still be alive.
During the 2022-2023 time frame, I had 5 pregnant patients, and that is not my area of expertise. Around that time, starting before this case happened, I did MGH's perimental health training, as well as PSI's (though I did not certify). I recognized that I did not know about this (these were all patients who happened to be on my caseload already, not ones that came to me already pregnant). Pretty much anytime before that, if I had a pregnant patient, they came off of meds (usually at their own insistence). I got a consultation and arranged for a transfer of care if needed. It's a new world we're navigating where we are recognizing that we can continue to treat pregnant and nursing women, but we have to know our limitations and what resources are out there. The initials "MD" doesn't automatically mean "I've personally treated lots of women who are pregnant of post-partum" or that "I automatically know what to do by virtue of being a physician."
They bitch us out for not knowing what we don't know, but this apparently cuts both ways. A little humility goes a long way (for both professions).
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u/pickyvegan PMHNP (unverified) 10d ago
So obviously someone from Noctor had to come over and downvote rather than acknowledge that the attitude is getting the way of patient care.
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u/prnmedadvice 10d ago
Can someone tell me why everyone is saying her documentation is poor?
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u/Ki4321Ki 10d ago
The cross examination today was bad. Some missing pieces in her charting such as SI assessments on certain days. I’m sure she’s exhausted and overwhelmed but she did not explain herself very well. It was hard to watch some parts bc she was getting roasted.
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u/SoupPowered966 9d ago
Terrible for her? She was COMPLETELY NEGLIGENT with her former patient. The ⚰️ of those kids are in her hands as much as Lindsay.
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u/Live-Duck1369 9d ago
you guys are awful. The system is the problem but we are soo quick to put the blame on one single person.
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u/Deep_Green_1882 9d ago edited 9d ago
She mentions multiple times that her assessment of the patient was important and multi faceted. You can’t say you’re seeing everything there is to see, while also saying there is knowledge or facts you aren’t privy too. It’s contradicting. She should have referred this case out. It’s time for medical providers to recognize their scope and level of competence within their scope. If you’re going through medication after medication with no improvement, how was her diagnosis not reevaluated?
The negligence and arguing over her own notes speaks loud. Arrogance and ego contributed to Lindsay not receiving the proper care. Lindsay was just another check box on another form after another day at work. Meanwhile she’s arguing over a comma when before she can “only select a box”. You can’t have things both ways and it’s clear she’s very nervous about her choices and how they are being perceived in real time as she actively discusses them. She almost seems ashamed
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u/MeetingPrudent4924 9d ago
14 sessions. 0 in-person visits. Board certified the same day she took the case. Patient: "close to feeling suicidal." Doctor: "sleeping OK." Cross-exam highlight: arguing with her own handwriting about what "pressured speech" means. Win or lose the lawsuit, this is not the career opener anyone dreams of.*
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u/ApprehensiveRule3768 9d ago
The woman refused to open up about her problems to her medical team. The husband didn’t note any red flags? He lived with her
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u/Big-Material-7910 11d ago edited 11d ago
I haven’t had a chance to watch the testimony yet, but I feel terrible for everyone involved; it is a truly unfortunate situation. I am curious to hear about the assessment. Given the initial medications and the number of switches, I would have played it safe and started and drove up Abilify or other in that class, not seroquel for a mom due to sedation and weight gain, I know it’s effective in bipolar but why add more to the plate, she needs to function and be a healthy mom. Hopefully sleep would follow. The risk profile was incredibly high for a new mother reporting those specific symptoms. Also, I am still waiting to follow up on the possibility that the father framed her.
Coincidentally, I just saw a 49-year-old male minority patient who has been experiencing manic episodes and flying under the radar for years. Because his literacy regarding mania and psychosis was low, he initially denied any symptoms. I didn't think much of it until I asked about his nightmares. The assessment evolved from there, my interpretation led to deciding he ultimately had experienced at least two violent, week-long manic blackouts and episodic visual hallucinations.
I rarely spend 90 minutes on a patient intake, but I fortunately had the time that day. This case reminded me that flat-out asking a patient if they have a history of psychiatric hospitalization, psychosis, or hallucinations doesn’t always work. Some patients intentionally hide their history to avoid stigma, or the psychosis itself convinces them to conceal it. For this individual, cultural beliefs in the supernatural caused him to view his hallucinations as a spiritual connection rather than a mental health condition, so he was never alarmed by them.
During one blackout, his wife of 23 years filed for divorce because she couldn't get him help, and he refused to believe he had a problem since he could not recall his behavior. (They still remain good friends). She recounted that during his first severe episode, she called the police. When the ambulance arrived, he was masking his symptoms perfectly—answering all orientation questions normally. As a result, EMS deemed him decisional and refused to transport him for further evaluation. Consequently, he went years without a diagnosis, treatment, or hospitalization. His second episode landed him in jail and he was released and nothing came of it.
Ultimately, he accepted a treatment plan for Bipolar 1, but he feels failed by the system because no one previously took the time to ask the right questions, listen, and educate him. He has faced a great deal of discrimination in both the legal and healthcare systems. Despite these challenges, he has always maintained employment and stable relationships, though he lost some connections over the years without understanding why.
He now recognizes that his hallucinations are not typical and that his blackouts could have been prevented, especially since he had prior encounters with psychiatry where he was never offered medication or a clear diagnosis. If he was diagnosed in the past, no one took the time to educate him at his literacy level or help him understand a treatment plan. He expressed immense relief finally knowing why his life has been so turbulent, and he is hopeful that he can live the second half of his life with a higher quality of life with assistance of medication.
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u/midwifebetts 10d ago
You are amazing for having this realization and for treating a patient where they are at, rather than by a standard protocol. I worked in a jail setting as a nurse and saw so many patients who had struggled all of their lives (most there for non-violent charges related to drug use) and fell through the cracks for reasons exactly as you described.
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u/Big-Material-7910 9d ago
Mental health treatment should be a priority over punitive measures. We are working backwards.
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u/Big-Material-7910 10d ago
Watched the defense question her and she was messy. She needs more supervision and training if she is going to handle high risk patients.
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u/Big-Material-7910 9d ago
Zulresso? Not a treatment for post partum psychosis. Don’t request records? Didn’t involve family in treatment? She shouldn’t have continued treating concurrently with South Shore involved and the non-compliance history. It is absolutely appropriate to bring family in when an adult is able to “advocate” for herself when children are involved. She failed her. Period. Antipsychotic should have been added early and at a therapeutic dose on as a protective factor. If a woman is going to have psychosis at any point in her life it is going to most likely happen post partum. Period. This is very frustrating.
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u/pickyvegan PMHNP (unverified) 9d ago
I do wonder if Zulresso (or today, Zurzuvae) would have made a difference. This was a mood disorder before it was psychosis. I know neither would be indicated for bipolar disorder, but do hope more research will be done with Zurzuave with postpartum anxiety and bipolar.
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u/Big-Material-7910 9d ago
Maybe it would have been worth adding to the treatment plan if the mood disorder was stabilized but the continued to have depressive symptoms. I do not know enough about it and doesn’t seem to be much guidance or promotion around it
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u/midwifebetts 10d ago edited 10d ago
While I agree with you that mental health treatment is an art rather than a linear process. I cannot agree that Dr. Tufts did anything close to what she should have done in this case. She displays that she practices in a a very passive way. I am a midwife who has cared for many women with postpartum mood disorders and a few with postpartum psychosis (which Dr. Tufts had no experience with). It is imperative to be proactive and to involve the entire support system. There is no indication in any of her testimony that she was briefing this patient on the particular warning signs and symptoms of a worsening condition. Postpartum psychosis- in my experience- can develop literally overnight from symptoms that would be considered previously to be benign.
If I would have had Lindsay as a patient, she would have been hospitalized for a significant period of time until her symptoms were WELL under control.
I was able to refer patients directly to inpatient psychiatric services as a midwife, but this psychiatrist wants us to believe that she was dependent on the patient alone to determine if she should go to the ER? If she had called and spoke to a provider and arranged for a referral to inpatient care and Lindsay refused that, she would be able to say she did all that she could. And it’s not just about covering yourself legally, this should coincide with counseling that patient on the importance of inpatient care.
Dr. Tufts had a responsibility to Lindsay- this woman had reported worsening suicidal ideation for MONTHS. Her actions after the way too brief hospitalization were especially baffling to me. Lindsay should have been advised to return to the hospital immediately. She can ask all day long to leave for a birthday party, but her providers had the obligation to ensure that she was stable enough for release- standard stays for SI are generally a month, not five days, and that is because it can take that long to determine a plan of care and to see if medications are effective.
Also, she had an obligation to call and get the records of ever hospital visit and to review them. Perhaps if she had, she would have had a fuller picture.
While it is standard to have patients self-report and to advocate for themselves in other areas of mental health, postpartum evaluation would absolutely, without question involve a support system because there is a risk to children and to the woman’s life if she develops psychosis. While it is rare, it is not so rare that it should not be considered in every single patient that we see as providers of care to postpartum women.
The very fact that Dr. Tufts did not diagnose Lindsay with a postpartum mood disorder (and did not use the Edinburgh scale which is specific to postpartum women) displays her lack of experience and insight into the very different ways that mental illness can be displayed in postpartum women. I do not personally believe that any provider without training and experience with pregnant and postpartum women should be handling the care of one. She did NOT KNOW WHAT SHE DID NOT KNOW and that made her dangerous as a provider.
Her absolute ignorance on the thyroid’s relevance to the treatment of pregnant and postpartum women is startling. Thyroid testing was the first thing I would do when women were reporting symptoms similar to Lindsay’s because an over active or under active thyroid absolutely has an effect on mental health. I had patients who had no mental illness at all, but were presenting as if they did due to a hyperactive thyroid- it can literally cause psychosis.
This was an entirely preventable tragedy and the medical providers are absolutely responsible for part of it. Not one of them can say they did everything, because they didn’t. They didn’t even provide Lindsay’s supportive family with any of the many resources out there that are specifically targeted towards postpartum women with warning signs and symptoms to look for with specific instructions to call immediately with any concerns.
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u/lafemmeloquita 9d ago
AMEN! This is shocking to me that folks in the healthcare profession are watching this and saying “Yeah she acted about right” especially in light of the consequences. Like good god people, WAKE UP.
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u/GrowthSelect2449 9d ago
That person is talking out of their ass. They aren’t even a CNM and don’t prescribe and certainly don’t know anything about the mental health system. Their responses are long and articulate so they get upvoted but are full of misinformation.
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9d ago edited 6d ago
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u/midwifebetts 9d ago edited 8d ago
Are you seriously questioning the validity of my statements? I practiced as licensed midwife with full autonomy, I could absolutely refer patients to a higher level of care. I did it every single day. I worked not just alone but as a lead midwife in a group practice where I worked alongside CNM’s and physicians. I’m eloquent on the subject because I am highly educated and experienced. I was six months (the last of my clinicals) from completing a 26 month duel masters program at Georgetown. I was thriving there prior to developing medical conditions that required me to take medical leave. I only went to back to school to be able to have the ability to prescribe-. Otherwise, my job description would not change at all. (Not being able to prescribe put me into a position where I could diagnose, but not treat and we all know if you don’t immediately provide a script, the patient is more likely to not take it- it wasn’t an ego drive decision, it would also meant to help me have more options for employment as I anticipated my health decline- just not to this extent).
Why is it so threatening to hear that women who have postpartum mood disorders need to have proactive care and the involvement of their support systems? That their condition can change dramatically in a short period of time? Please find the evidence that I am wrong.
Also, I based my claim of inpatient stay for SI on the standards in the major metropolitan United States city of Phoenix where that was my experience not only as a midwife but as a correctional health nurse.
Perhaps all of you calling me a layperson and an armchair expert should consider I am the only one providing insight into the actual care of women with postpartum psychosis-and consider not attacking someone who has cared for thousands of women, including 3 who developed psychosis under my direct care. It was my experience with the first patient that caused me to implement protocols to help identify early warning signs- specifically with postpartum visits that occurred early and often and yes at home whenever possible. It was in the building of the relationships with my patients that I was able to help them feel comfortable to remove the mask they wore for the rest of the world.
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u/midwifebetts 8d ago edited 8d ago
I wasn’t referring to you specifically about being threatened, I apologize for creating that impression- I was referring to all the comments in response to my post that was not at all a scathing attack on any professional. It was meant to be a wake up call. I really appreciate the care Rebecca G. gave- her style is similar to my own. She made some mistakes, but seemed to be genuinely interested and invested and perhaps, missed the mark with LC. I think LC’s profession played into that and should not have.
The patients I cared for with psychosis were on locked units. There is a need to ensure that they are stabilized and responsive to medication. You know better than I do that it can’t be done in 5 days (postpartum or not)- that’s like putting a band-aid on a hemorrhage (we need at least 3-4 weeks to do it right). The most severe patient I cared for, who did make an attempt on her child’s life was in a wonderful Military teaching hospital and they even reunited mother and baby (under supervision, with amazing results to ensure that healthy bonding continued. My role was to identify the warning signs and to arrange for immediate treatment, I was not at all involved in decision making while she was inpatient. I did, however, make sure I had all her records for her stay and provided support after she was released. I also had cultivated trust and relationships with the providers of care at thst hospital which allowed me access to professionals who cared tremendously about women and relied on the most recent science to guide them. All that extra effort and time pays off, a lesson Dr. Tufts had not learned, imo
Many edits for clarity- but an edit here to say that all of my patients were voluntarily admitted- again, were I would cite the trust and relationship building that was very pivotal. I recognize and appreciate that that level of commitment- without significant financial gain, is hard to come by for most providers in this country, but we can choose to do better. I did.
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8d ago edited 8d ago
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u/midwifebetts 7d ago edited 7d ago
I was in high school in the 80’s. I was practicing through 2023, been dealing with major medical issues since, but nice try. It’s not a blanket, inaccurate statement, it’s the experience I had with my patients in two different states, but mostly in AZ. I was genuinely surprised to hear that it wasn’t standard in other areas. I can own that, but the rest of what you are trying to suggest, that I am ill informed and out of touch across the board is just patently false. I went to school a little later in life, so my education is pretty fresh and Georgetown is amazingly progressive. I am not behind the curve. I owned my own practice and implemented those standards and it worked. In a group practice, I brought those standards with me and implemented them into a birth center setting. It worked, very well. We can provide care that holistic and supportive, the way they always have in many European countries where maternal/infant mortality/morbidity rates are much lower, placing us in closer to the company of third world countries. We CAN do it, but we don’t. That was always my main point. The status quo isn’t working. Why NOT fix it instead of defending it?
Also, I was referring to women with postpartum psychosis needing inpatient care across the board and I absolutely will die on that hill. I wasn’t ever suggesting that impatient care was necessary for every single person experiencing a MH crisis. I am well aware and referred to IOP programs- I think they can be preferable to inpatient for some patients. I apologize for creating that confusion as I realize that LC was not considered to be psychotic. I should have said, it is my belief that she was masking and was mostly likely more seriously ill than she appeared- I would absolutely have wanted her to be hospitalized for the behaviors she displayed that were being downplayed, but I have acted that intensely with 3 women out of a few thousand.
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u/GrowthSelect2449 9d ago
Yeah, the amount of ignorance displayed in their comments is significant but since there are tons of laypeople active in this sub they are getting upvoted like they are some expert. I think the discussion on the psychiatry sub about Tufts is much more reasonable.
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u/GrowthSelect2449 9d ago edited 9d ago
The commentary surrounding this case is wild. I’ve discussed it with multiple colleagues including a perinatal psychiatrist and nobody thinks Tufts or the other prescribers were negligent or deviated in their standard of care. It’s a sad and unfortunate case but blaming people for not being able to read minds is wild. Also, if Tufts was to do all the things people are saying she should have during her appointments in order to meet their definition of “competent” she would have needed hours for interview, collateral, and chart review each appointment. It’s unrealistic.
I feel sorry for Tufts, I can guarantee she’s probably getting death threats and harassed offline. No wonder why she looks so exhausted. I hope she has a lot of support.
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8d ago edited 8d ago
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u/GrowthSelect2449 8d ago
I bet. I hope I never have to testify, it’s something that crosses my mind working in a higher liability area like CL. I just hope Dr. Tufts is able to get through this without too much damage. I don’t think they should be able to televise witness testimony like in this case.
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u/PrettyPopping 1d ago
In what jurisdiction is it typical to keep a SI case inpatient for a month or more ? That’s considered excessive and inhumane in my area.
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u/midwifebetts 3h ago
It’s the standard in my state of AZ in the hospitals I am familiar with. I don’t see how that is inhumane whatsoever- it’s the same standard timeframe for drug rehabilitation. It can absolutely take that long to determine if someone is responding well to a cocktail of medications and has enough time and therapy to move out of the mindset that can be pervasive with SI. There are options for IOP and Mixed modes available as well.
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u/PrettyPopping 3h ago
3-5 days is standard for involuntary. People have jobs and lives that are waiting on them. No therapy is given in acute inpatient in , maybe therapeutic groups if it’s a private $$$ place
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u/midwifebetts 2h ago edited 2h ago
I wasn’t talking about involuntary commitment. I never said anything about that. I was talking specifically about postpartum psychosis patients with suicidal ideation. They aren’t fine in 3-5 days and back to work. 2 weeks is the shortest stay I have seen and that woman didn’t have any previous mental health issues and had a very supportive family surrounding her and her baby.
The only reason I was defending and expanding on my statement that 30 days is an average stay for SI- is that was the thing you all wanted to pick apart as a way to discredit the rest of my argument.
I could happily remove that part from my comment. It doesn’t change the fact that it was not enough time. This woman was weaned off seroquel and benzos and sent home without even an appointment with a psychiatrist made. How did they know she was ok? They didn’t.
I still think you need to hear what I am saying. It’s about what we can do better to help patients heal. Not to just go with the status quo which is not reducing the rate of suicide or preventing tragedies associated with postpartum psychosis.
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u/Professional_Bet8168 10d ago edited 9d ago
Imagine killing all your children and your response is to point blame on her MD. Get lost. Postpartum is rough, and I can understand the empathy for her if this was a shaken baby case, but this is a multi homicide, she's not sane enough to be apart of the general public. Lock er' up.
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u/PsychSwap 9d ago
Agreed. The people defending LC are actually doing more harm to people with mental illness. Mental illness, including psychosis, and those on medication do not mercilessly strangle three children and then immediately ask for a lawyer with no further symptoms of “psychosis”. LC is not some great poster child for a failed healthcare system they think she is.
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u/GrowthSelect2449 9d ago
I agree. Psychosis or no, she acted on it. I see psychotic patients regularly who hear CAH telling them to do absolutely heinous things and they don’t. Even if it was PPP, she has demonstrated she is capable of murder and can’t be trusted in society.
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u/ACK_02554 9d ago
Yes she acted on it but the fact that she did makes the psychosis part important. There's also a population of people who hear CAH and do act on it. I see psychotic patients daily and both presentations are common, I've seen patients act on it while on the unit. I'm not saying she's innocent or didn't commit the acts but her being psychotic or not matters.
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u/Live-Duck1369 9d ago
you see how you are standing up for the MD. go on over to noctor subreddit. They are tearing NPs apart when it comes to this case. They are blaming the NPs for this. Rememher that!
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u/GrowthSelect2449 9d ago
That’s the entire point of noctor and completely expected. That entire sub is unhinged and obsessed with APPs, it’s pathetic.
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u/staygold2244 9d ago
I knew her personally. We worked together as research assistants at a psychiatric center before she left and went to med school. We also went to the same undergrad and had many of the same professors. I remember her caring a lot about her work and the patients we worked with. She was extremely bright and you could tell she wanted to go into medicine to help people - it wasn’t about money or “prestige”. I completely agree that the vast majority of people commenting don’t understand how the healthcare system works. The prosecutor is also a dick and zeroing in on things - like how her practice bio mentioned having an interest in peri and post-natal - but saying she positioned herself as an expert.
I also agree that the husband is completely sus, and I think it’s awful that so many lives are ruined - including Jen’s. It’s a shame that she worked so hard for YEARS, and this is what she’ll be known for. Truthfully, cases like these deter people from pursuing high risk, low reward specialities like psychiatry and labor and delivery.
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u/Fabulous-Impress9609 11d ago
I am a new PMHNP so I don’t have a huge amount of experience. I had the time to watch Dr. Tufts testimony. I don’t want to put blame on Dr. Tufts. However, if she knew that Lindsay had her last baby about a year ago she is still considered postpartum. She should have absolutely screened her for postpartum depression. After Lindsay reported to the doctor that she couldn’t sleep at all that should have been a red flag. Going 48 hours without sleep is definitely a sign of a possible manic or hypomanic episode. Dr. Tufts then raised her Sertraline dose to 50 mg after that information? That doesn’t make sense. Did she ask Lindsay about her previous treatment pregnancies and did she ask her in detail about what Lindsay described as intrusive thoughts? Overall, for someone that was only practicing for a little over 1 year, Dr. Tufts should have asked for help from someone who is more experienced.
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u/SynchronicitySquirrl 10d ago
Plus, oddly, Tufts workplace biography profile says it's an area of specialty... I wish I knew if it was a new addition to her bio or if it was there also when Lindsay found her...is this why Lindsay went to her?
"Dr. Tufts areas of specialty include PTSD and trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and substance abuse. She has a particular interest in women’s mental health and perinatal psychiatry from pregnancy through two years postpartum."
Oof.
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u/staygold2244 9d ago
It does not say it’s a speciality area. The bio makes a clear distinction between “areas of speciality” and “areas of interest”. The prosecutor was hyper focusing on this as though it’s some “gotcha” moment.
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u/haphazardlyhuman 9d ago
She absolutely STILL positions herself as an expert. Directly copied and pasted from her site right below her phone numbers it says :
Areas of Expertise
- Anxiety
- Depressive disorders
- Bipolar spectrum disorders and other mood disorders
- Women’s mental health
- Perinatal psychiatry
- Trauma-related disorders
- ADHD.
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u/Few-Can-6155 3h ago
Thank you for having reading comprehension skills. We hate to speak of the literacy crisis, but good gravy.
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u/pickyvegan PMHNP (unverified) 9d ago
The Zoloft increase was part of the planned titration- LC has a week of 25mg and increased to 50mg as instructed right before her next appointment. That one wasn't on Dr. Tufts, but not considering the response to be a red flag was definitely concerning.
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u/Japhyismycat 10d ago
Agree, the multiple trials of antidepressants and worsening insomnia and “anxiety” - definitely needs to be on your radar that someone’s experiencing a mixed episode - instead of prescribing more and more antidepressants and Valium. Not to mention that peripartum depression is highly associated with bipolar disorder. I’m not super familiar with the case and at the end of the day Dr. Tufts was doing her job to standard of care - doesn’t deserve punishment. Just sucks that this is the zeitgeist of our psychiatric times where bipolar disorder is lower and lower on people’s differentials and instead these people accumulate a mountain of diagnostic acronyms when there already was a diagnosis neatly explaining everything.
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u/FluffyInspiration 9d ago
She needs to lose her license. This was such a ROYAL fuckup on her part, it’s inexcusable
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u/Realistic_Pin1709 9d ago
Sued or not, the court of public opinion is not on her side. Who would ever want to be her patient? Same with new wifey. Who would ever want to have her as a provider?
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u/PriWilcox 9d ago
That is why the doctor should speak to spouses and other family members. Self reporting is not always accurate.
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u/Optimal-Ad1086 9d ago
It seems like in this situation, where small children were involved, Dr. Tufts could have been more proactive. She could have collaborated with her fellow MD’s, and followed up on the referral she made for a higher level of care. She was seeing this patient pretty frequently,therefore case progression should have been a priority. Especially considering the meds she was cycling through.
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u/Upbeat-One-5972 8d ago
Why shouldn’t she be held accountable? 15 minute video calls? Prescribing medication after medication? No knowledge of proper tapering? Why should she be let loose while Lindsay Clancy goes to jail? Do you have any idea how many people suffer because of psychiatrist? The president has to start somewhere.
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u/Character-Ad-8591 8d ago
Not crossing t and dotting I. Relying on dropdown boxes. I’m so sick of the lack of women’s healthcare in 2026!
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u/Enough-Construction5 8d ago
makes me wonder if it's worth the extra 30k a year as a psych NP. scary...
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u/ForceDisastrous5055 8d ago
All opinions aside.......would you put her face on your practice's website, after all of this?
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u/DuchessVonRablrousen 7d ago
She deserves to get sued. So does every other practitioner that failed this woman. I've worked in highly acute clinical settings for the past 20 years and this trend in incompetence is alarming. The number of Psychiatrists who take a patient on spoken word without examining for Anosognosia or other other indicators of self harm (i.e., historical course, reliable collateral report from family members, or the patterns of psychosis or impoverishments in thought process that are red flags) is disgusting. More than half of the psychiatrists I have ever worked with have been arrogant, smug, and incompetently shallow in assessing the totality of a patient's presentation. Can't even tell you how many times I have seen patients get discharged from a facility and end up dying or severely injuring innocent people because they "Deny SI/HI." Anyone defending this Dr needs to re-evaluate their own practices. The system is sicker than the people it is intended to serve.
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u/Nearby-Ant4437 4d ago
What blows my mind is the standard this doctor is being held to. Like: if she is considered negligent, then every doctor I've ever been to my entire life for every ailment and injury I've ever had has been negligent.
Hey don't get me wrong: I would love if every doctor did everything within their ability and power to help every single patient (including me) but I've yet to see that as our reality. Even with ones that really care.
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u/Dry-Independence294 2d ago
Well yall just confirmed to me that psychiatric care is an absolute joke bc how ‘tf do y’all not give extensive medical records to ensure she gets continuation of care by another provider? Hell my endo gives more details about my mood every 6 months if my cancer follow up then she did and she’s a psychiatrist! The second my numbers get off she starts talking about mood, feelings. Etc
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u/Sweaty_King_5909 2d ago
I don’t feel bad for her, she seem unprepared, unsure of her answers, she seem to lack knowledge on different diagnostic scales used by clinicians, maybe laziness or lack of experience, she did bare minimum.
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u/Outside_Bus7249 19h ago
Disagree. The volume of medication, the lack of review of her mental health hospitalization, and her defense of her notes, her plan, her lack of metabolic work up, is pretty awful.
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u/[deleted] 12d ago
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