Chaplain says Clancy shared fears of not being able to walk again; lawyers spar over chaplain’s notes

Bailey Allen

ᴀssistant District Attorney Jennifer Sprague cross-examined of Brigham and Women’s Hospital chaplain Sheila Cavanaugh.

Sprague asked Cavanaugh if the only time she saw a large police presence in Lindsay Clancy’s hospital room was on Jan. 25, when search warrants were being executed.

Cavanaugh replied, “Perhaps.”

After Sprague established that Cavanaugh kept detailed notes about her interactions with Clancy, Sprague said Cavanaugh never documented that Clancy was hearing voicees.

“Correct,” Cavanaugh said. “Chaplain notes are not verbatim transcripts of patient conversations. I’m not there to evaluate the patient, I’m there to be a witness to their suffering.”

Sprague then said that Cavanaugh had documented other statements from Clancy in her notes.

She read from a note Cavanaugh had made on Feb. 6, 2023, regarding an interaction with Clancy: “Lindsay welcomed the visit and shared her fears of ‘not being able to walk again.’ She continued to express her fears of how her inability to walk may make her vulnerable to others in the future.”

Sprague then read from a note from Feb. 9, 2023: “[Clancy] was sitting in a chair adjacent to the bed and appeared to be visibly engaged, energized, and hopeful than in previous visits… Lindsay spoke hopefully of being discharged when the time arrives to Spaulding.”

Sprague read a note from Feb. 13, 2023: “Lindsay also expressed hopefulness in relation to her physical progress. She feels she has gained considerable physical strength and agility despite an inability to move her legs. She admitted that she feels ‘deserving’ of this in light of recent events.”

A note was also read from Feb. 16, 2023: “[Clancy] expressed hopefulness with the news of her anticipated discharge to Spaulding and seemed uplifted that she would be cared for in a facility with an excellent reputation.”

Another note from Feb. 16, 2023, said that Paula Musgrove, Clancy’s mother, and Clancy, were “playing a card game as they communed quietly” and that Clancy expressed hopefulness with the news of her anticipated discharge to Spaulding and seemed uplifted.

Sprague reiterated that Cavanaugh had written details about Clancy’s feelings, but nothing about the voice she said she had heard the night of the children’s deaths.

Cavanaugh was also asked whether Clancy told her she was working out with a yellow exercise band at Spaulding and whether Clancy reached out to a social worker there to fill out Social Security Disability Insurance paperwork. She replied “no” to both questions.

When Sprague sat down, Reddington rose for redirection and asked Cavanaugh about privileged information.

Cavanaugh said she approaches patients in a “vortex of trust” and that “when a patient talks with a chaplain, their conversations are confidential” and not documented in medical records.

However, Sprague rose again to ask about some exact quotes Cavanaugh wrote from Clancy. Cavanaugh said that yes, some comments noted were exact quotes.

“I use my best judgement,” Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh stepped down and the courtroom then took a break.