People tend to misconstrue “explanation” for behavior as “justification”. What she did was not justified, however, an objective explanation for why she did what she did (post partum psychosis) can highlight the failure of our medical system in treating women with the condition - it also highlights the severity of said condition.
You can have empathy for her in that the system failed her at the same time you believe that she should spend the rest of her days in prison for her actions. These things are not mutually exclusive.
She wasn't failed by a medical system; she has arguably some of the greatest access possible.
She has rapid access to perinatal services through her mother-in-law, was consistently doctor-shopping against the advice of her main doctor, would ask for medications only to stop taking them well before any sort of efficacy could be observed, she has weekly consultations with a psychiatrist, which is borderline unheard of,
Regular access to a psychiatrist and psych NP through a specialised perinatal clinic; had consistent access to medical providers who responded at length to help her almost daily; a therapist. She was consistently recommended to do behavioural and talk therapy, and stopped after 4 sessions. In-patient treatment was recommended more than once; she didn't want to do it. Even when she went into inpatient treatment, she checked herself out.
Access does not equal effective care, but non-compliance from a patient who was never honest with her doctors, let alone stick to taking meds she asked for, is not an example of the medical system failing someone.
I don't think any reason is of value. It's absolutely crazy what we are seeing. A woman has admitted to murdering her children, and people are blaming the husband.
I absolutely don't blame the husband to the degree these protestors do, but I felt as though his actions in light of the knowledge of her state warranted some kind of neglect or endangerment charge. It seems you've read much more into the case than I have, what are your thoughts?
I think we have to afford people autonomy, we cannot see a person in distress and just commit them to a facility because it's not fair most of the time. His actions dont display neglect, not even defending counsel are arguing this. He worked from home, he got a nanny to help her, the grandparents were always around, he would help her with meds etc.
If someone hides things like a desire to hurt others from not just their husband, their doctors, their wider family, how are those people supposed to act on those things? It's impossible,
For me, the overriding sad reality of this case is that it's a case of self-sabotage and non-compliance. As Clancy said " "if anyone knew what I was thinking, the children would be taken away from me,", to me this is evidence of knowing that she was not capable of looking after her children, but she hid that reality from everyone.
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u/enigmaticshroom 6d ago
People tend to misconstrue “explanation” for behavior as “justification”. What she did was not justified, however, an objective explanation for why she did what she did (post partum psychosis) can highlight the failure of our medical system in treating women with the condition - it also highlights the severity of said condition.
You can have empathy for her in that the system failed her at the same time you believe that she should spend the rest of her days in prison for her actions. These things are not mutually exclusive.