Psychiatrist Jennifer Tufts' Cross-Exam In Lindsay Clancy's Trial — Part 1

Lindsay Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington cross-examined psychiatrist Jennifer Tufts for about three hours in Clancy's murder trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts today (Monday, August 10, day 10.) This is the first hour and 50 minutes. 10:03 "So you you were practicing as a psychiatrist for a little more than a month?" "I was practicing independently with my full congruentials for for about a month, but the training is just immense that goes on before that." 15:23 "How many women did you treat for postpartum depression in that month and a half before you met Lindsay?" "I don't know, maybe a couple, but I've treated I've treated many of them in in the residency, which was just immediately before." 19:11 " And you know that the outcome of this case is very, very major to the outcome of your lawsuit?" "I don't actually know that." "So you understand that if, in fact, it's determined that you advertised as an expert in postpartum and in postpartum psychiatry, and you've had a month experience plus a residency. Would you consider that to be negligent or misrepresentation?" "I do not believe that I have been negligent." "Do you understand what misrepresentation means?" "Yes." 32:50 "You know that her first Edinburgh test that was administered to her put her at a 23 overall severe depression?" "I was not aware of this test. I was not aware that this had been administered to her." 33:45 "So, is it important for Dr. Jennifer Tufts to know whether or not a patient who is coming to you for help has a prior medical history other than what they might tell you?" "Well, when patients are are able to advocate for themselves and share their medical history. We rely on on what they tell us." "Was she able to advocate for herself, in your opinion, when she came to see you?" "Absolutely." 36:26 "Now, a psychiatrist, you'd agree with me, is not a counselor. That's for sure, right?" "Well, a psychiatrist has training in therapy as well as in medicine." "Did you give Lindsay Clancy any therapy?" "There was some therapy incorporated in our sessions. ...providing emotional support, listening to her." 38:07 "I listened to her. I listened to her concerns and provided support. I tried to provide her with hope that eventually things would improve." 41:58 "Isn't that important for you as a doctor to take a history?" "I did take a history." "So can you tell us? Tell us whether or not she had any past psychiatric history other than in nursing school for a week." "She did not report any other past psychiatric history other than the Prozac ..." 45:08 time frame for postpartum "It's typically one year." "So she was well within that time frame, correct?" "Yes." 50:55 "Did you tell her that one of the known side effects is suicidal thoughts and actions and ideation?" "Well, that's specifically in in children, so I I don't think I mentioned that because it wasn't relevant." "Can you just listen to my question and answer it? Yes or no. Is there a black box warning on Zoloft?" "Yes." 53:23 "As a psychiatrist who had the ability to issue these types of medications to patients and citizens, what research did you do on Zoloft and suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation?" "I was taught extensively about SSRIs and suicidal ideation in my training in Vermont, in Boston." 56:55 "And why would you prescribe Zoloft to a young woman who's postpartum, who's coming to you with anxiety? Who's telling you we can't? She can't sleep?" 01:01:49 "Okay, so when did she actually take the Zoloft?" "She told me in her October 20 visit that she had taken it one week prior." 01:12:05 "Is it your understanding that if a person has a difficult birth, and in fact has some psychiatric attributes as a result of that difficult birth, that you should not prescribe SSRIs to that person because they could be bipolar?" "Having a difficult birth does not-it's not a contraindication to an SSRI." 01:18:20 "So on December 1, what did she tell you?" "That she denied feeling suicidal, but that she was close to feeling suicidal." 01:22:30 "And what therapy did you give her in November of 22?" "I gave her supportive psychotherapy." 01:25:16 "I don't think I asked her about suicide hotlines." "Would it surprise you to know that she called suicide hotline in that time frame, not once, but twice, and was turned away. You guys were on the front line of this, aren't you?" "It does surprise me..."