Exclusive | Lindsay Clancy trial spotlights controversial antipsychotic — and some claim it ‘ruined’ their lives

Nypost · Aug 14, 2026 · 1181 words · By Kyra Breslin

Medical Malpractice/Off-label Prescribing Mental Health Treatment Pharmaceutical Safety

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What to know about Medical Malpractice/Off-label Prescribing

Lindsay Clancy trial spotlights controversial antipsychotic — and some claim it ‘ruined’ their lives See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 9

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Lindsay Clancy trial spotlights controversial antipsychotic — and some claim it ‘ruined’ their lives See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google Of the long list of psychiatric medications Lindsay Clancy was prescribed in the months before she killed her three children in their Massachusetts home in 2023, one drug has come up repeatedly during trial: Seroquel.

Common ground

In testimony this week, it was revealed that Clancy’s nurse practitioner, Rebecca Jollotta, initially prescribed the non-controlled antipsychotic as an off-label treatment for insomnia — before increasing the dose for mood stabilization.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Medical Malpractice/Off-label Prescribing story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The FDA label also reports nervous-system adverse reactions including psychosis, hallucinations, paranoid reaction, delusions, manic reaction and apathy?
How does this story connect Medical Malpractice/Off-label Prescribing with Mental Health Treatment over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/lifestyle/lindsay-clancy-trial-throws-spotlight-on…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 85% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 60% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

info Single Source 2

verified Verified 2

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Claim 1: “The FDA label also reports nervous-system adverse reactions including psychosis, hallucinations, paranoid reaction, delusions, manic reaction and apathy”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific list of nervous-system adverse reactions (psychosis, hallucinations, etc.) is mentioned in one web search result referencing the FDA label, but the other provided search results for this claim are generic Wikipedia entries on psychosis or general approval letters that do not list these specific reactions.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — AstraZeneca plc () (AZ) is a Swedish–British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with its headquarters at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, England. It has a portfolio o…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AstraZeneca

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a complete list of clinically approved prescription antidepressants throughout the world, as well as clinically approved prescription drugs used to augment antidepressants or mood stabilizers,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antidepressants

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Quetiapine ( kwi-TY-ə-peen), sold under the brand name Seroquel among others, is a medication of the atypical antipsychotic class. It is used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quetiapine

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Maker AstraZeneca previously tangled with the government over marketing of the drug — resulting in a $520 million fine.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources, including the NY Times and the Office of Public Affairs, confirm AstraZeneca paid a $520 million settlement regarding the illegal marketing of Seroquel.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of the 20 largest settlements reached between the United States Department of Justice and pharmaceutical companies from 2001 to 2013, ordered by the size of the total settlemen…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_pharmaceutical…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “By January 2023... Lindsay Clancy voluntarily admitted herself to McLean psychiatric hospital, where Seroquel was discontinued.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant Wikipedia pages (Lindsay Lohan) or news about a mistrial, but none of the provided evidence confirms the voluntary admission to McLean hospital or the discontinuation of Seroquel in January 2023.

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web search NEUTRAL — This page was last edited on 2 September 2026, at 14:56 (UTC).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Lohan

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web search NEUTRAL — Toggle the table of contents Lindsay (name)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_(name)

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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The judge in the Lindsay Clancy case declared a mistrial after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied an emergency request from the defense.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/04/us/live-news/lindsay-clancy-t…

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Claim 4: “Clancy’s nurse practitioner, Rebecca Jollotta, initially prescribed the non-controlled antipsychotic [Seroquel] as an off-label treatment for insomnia — before increasing the dose for mood stabilization.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results detailing trial testimony confirm that nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta prescribed Seroquel off-label for insomnia and later increased the dose for mood stabilization.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On January 24, 2023, Lindsay Clancy fatally strangled her three children—five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan—at the family's home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, United St…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_the_Clancy_children

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web search NEUTRAL — Psychiatric nurse Rebecca Jollotta testified she never observed signs of psychosis during her treatment of Lindsay Clancy.He asked why she increased the Seroquel. Jollotta said Clancy's symptoms chang…
https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/courts/2026/08/11/l…

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web search NEUTRAL — Rebecca Jollotta's testimony in Lindsay Clancy's trial has renewed scrutiny of the medications prescribed to her in the months before she killed her 3 children.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/what-medic…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 5: “doctors remain legally permitted to prescribe approved medications off-label.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm that physicians are legally permitted to prescribe FDA-approved medications for off-label uses.

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web search NEUTRAL — Off-label drug use may sound scary, but it’s an important part of our healthcare system. Learn about the benefits and risks of off-label prescription drugs.Yes, physicians are legally allowed to presc…
https://www.consumersafety.org/news/what-is-off-label-drug-u…

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web search NEUTRAL — Even so, physicians are legally permitted to prescribe drugs off-label, and many patients would not receive the best available care without them. HEATHER CLAVERIE is a contributing writer for IG Livin…
https://www.igliving.com/magazine/articles/IGL_2016-12_AR_On…

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web search NEUTRAL — Off-label prescribing itself is not unusual. Physicians may lawfully prescribe FDA-approved drugs for indications not listed on the label when supported by clinical judgment. The friction begins when …
https://djholtlaw.com/off-label-fda-marketing-risks-in-funct…

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Claim 6: “Lindsay Clancy killed her three children in their Massachusetts home in 2023”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (NBC Washington, NY Post, Flipboard) and Wikipedia confirm that Lindsay Clancy killed her three children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dexter: New Blood is an American crime drama mystery television miniseries developed by Clyde Phillips for Showtime. A continuation of the television series Dexter (2006–2013), it features Michael C. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter:_New_Blood

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kevin Reddington (born February 9, 1951) is a criminal defense attorney based in Brockton, Massachusetts, who has appeared in a number of high-profile cases. He received his law degree from Suffolk Un…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Reddington

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+ 4 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “Seroquel... is FDA-approved for psychiatric disorders”

VERIFIED

Web search results explicitly state that Seroquel is FDA-approved to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

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web search NEUTRAL — Seroquel is a brand name for the drug quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication.The Seroquel lawsuit also alleged that Seroquel is aggressively marketed for use in patients with anxiety, depression, or …
https://www.millerandzois.com/products-liability/drugs/other…

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web search NEUTRAL — Seroquel is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and, in certain adults, major depressive disorder as an add-on treatment to an antidepress…
https://arthurbehaviouralhealth.com/what-is-seroquel-used-fo…

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web search NEUTRAL — He gives an overview of mental disorders and role of psychiatry in controlling the nonconformists in society. Mr. Frank edited the best-selling Random House Webster's Quotationary in 1998 and The Hist…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V1hXhX26Gw

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Claim 8: “AstraZeneca’s whopping fine was handed down in 2010, to resolve allegations that it illegally marketed Seroquel for uses not approved by the FDA, including insomnia.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the $520 million settlement occurred in 2010 to resolve allegations of illegal marketing for non-FDA-approved uses, specifically mentioning insomnia.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Weight gain, elevated blood sugar, and other metabolic changes are well-documented risks of Seroquel.”

VERIFIED

Multiple medical-related sources and prescribing information confirm that weight gain, elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and metabolic changes (cholesterol/triglycerides) are documented risks.

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web search NEUTRAL — Having high cholesterol and blood pressure is often associated with being overweight or having an unhealthy life style. Abusing Seroquel puts one at risk of developing these conditions related to weig…
https://greenhousetreatment.com/what-is-seroquel/long-term-e…

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web search NEUTRAL — These include weight gain, elevation of cholesterol and triglycerides, and diabetes, even when prescribed at recommended doses. Quetiapine as a sleeping drug. Studies on the use of quetiapine for seda…
https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-seroquel-and-s…

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web search NEUTRAL — This includes: Substantial weight gain. Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and development of diabetes. See diabetes information. Increased cholesterol and triglycerides. Patients starting Seroquel …
https://www.imedix.com/drugs/seroquel/

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.