Lindsay Clancy Trial: ER Doctor Testifies Her Injuries Prove She Tried to Die

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
This is live courtroom coverage of the trial of Lindsay Clancy from the Hidden Killers podcast in True Crime Today. Now, back to the courtroom.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:11)
Why don't you hold off, I'm going to give an instruction.

**Kevin Reddington** (0:13)
Oh, sure.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:13)
At this point. So, members of the jury, I just want to give you an instruction. It's one I probably should have given a little bit earlier in the trial as well. It's going to apply to this witness. It applies to a number of witnesses testified earlier. And it's going to apply to a number of witnesses who testify after.
And it's in regards to expert witnesses, all right?
So, generally, in cases that are tried in our courts, witnesses may testify only to facts that are within their own personal knowledge. That's things that they personally seen, heard or felt. However, in a variety of cases, issues arise that are beyond the experiences of lay persons. In those type of cases, we allow a person with specialized training or experience, called an expert witness, to testify. And to testify not only to facts, but also to opinions and the reasons for their opinions on issues that are within that witness's field of expertise and irrelevant material to the case. Because a particular witness has specialized training and experience in their field, does not put that witness on our list. Just like you would treat any other witness. In other words, as with any other witness, it's completely up to you to decide whether you accept the testimony of any expert witness, including the opinions that they give. It's also entirely up to you to decide whether you accept the facts that are relied on by the expert and to decide what conclusions, if any, you draw from the witness's testimony. You're free to reject the testimony and opinion of such a witness in whole or in part if you determine that the opinion is not based on sufficient education and experience, that the testimony of the witness is motivated by some bias or interests in the case. You must keep firmly in mind that you alone, you alone decide what the facts are. So if you conclude that an expert's opinion is not based on the facts as you find those facts to be, then you may reject the testimony in the opinion of the expert in whole or in part.
You must remember that expert witnesses do not decide cases, juries do. So in the last analysis, an expert witness is like any other witness in the sense that you alone make the judgment about how much credibility and weight you give to that expert's testimony and what conclusions you draw from the testimony.
And I'll go into that a little bit more at the end when I go into the more extensive instructions that I'll give you at the end of the trial. All right, Mr. Rank.

**Kevin Reddington** (2:44)
Afternoon.

**Michael Vulfovich** (2:44)
Afternoon.

**Kevin Reddington** (2:45)
Can you tell us your name and spell your name?

**Michael Vulfovich** (2:49)
It's Michael Vulfovich. It's V as in Victor, U L, F as in Frank, O, V as in Victor, I C H.

**Kevin Reddington** (2:56)
And what do you do for work, sir?

**Michael Vulfovich** (2:59)
I'm an emergency medicine doctor. I work full time in Newton-Welsley Hospital.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:02)
Newton-Welsley?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:03)
Yes.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:04)
And can you tell us your, are you board certified, sir?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:07)
I am. I'm board certified in emergency medicine.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:10)
And that would be by the American Board of Emergency Medicine?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:13)
Correct.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:14)
And how long have you been practicing emergency medicine?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:17)
I did three years of residency and this is my thirteenth year as a full time attending.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:22)
And you're presently employed, where is it?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:25)
Newton-Welsley Hospital primarily and then I do some additional shifts at Emerson Hospital in Concord.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:30)
How about medical school? Where did you go to med school?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:33)
St. Louis University School of Medicine.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:36)
And what year did you graduate?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:38)
2011

**Kevin Reddington** (3:39)
Obviously licensed in the Commonwealth.

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:41)
Yes, sir.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:43)
In the course of your training and experience, sir, do you work full time in a particular field of medicine?

**Michael Vulfovich** (3:51)
Just emergency medicine. So basically we see any inalcomers, anything from ankle sprains to traumas.

**Kevin Reddington** (3:58)
Okay. Did I ask you to review some documents regarding this particular case involving Lindsay Clancy?

**Michael Vulfovich** (4:07)
You did. You asked me to review the...