As I said earlier, the state needs to go further and see just WHY the medical experts and the husband ignored what was right there for everyone to see: that she was a danger to the children. I think it's terribly sad they focused on her and not the kids.  At the very least, they should have gone to stay with the family and she undergo more treatment.

However as my opthalmologist said, "hindsight is more accurate than foresight." <sigh>

Kat


"St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I wholeheartedly agree with you Yvonne. Those who condemn Mrs. Yates,
for the most part, are people whose families are mentally well, and who
don't have a clue as to mental illness.   I do, because I have friends
who have it.

Mike
mhcollis@pop..erols.com

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Yvonne Craig
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 3:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Yates' case

As a mental health professional, I was shocked by what I have heard
about =
the whole case. I have heard she was suffering from post-partum
depression =
and other reports that she has schizophrenia (two vastly different =
diagnoses with different treatments but with some common features) - I =
don't know which is true. I also heard that on the advice of her doctor
=
her meds were stopped. If she was psychotic from either of those
conditions=
 and unmedicated, I cannot imagine how she was found guilty.  There
seems =
to be this misconception that a psychotic person is automatically =
disorganized and therefore would be unable to "methodically" carry out
the =
killings. This is just not true. This is a horrific tragedy and I feel
for =
the children and the family, but if she was psychotic at the time, she =
should not be held responsible for her actions legally. Her doctor
should =
be held criminally responsible for not providing appropriate treatment
and =
follow-up. Thank God she didn't receive the death penalty!=20

The way I see it, she was convicted based on misconceptions and biases =
against those disabled by mental illness. JMHO.

Yvonne