Frances had only just arrived at work when she received a phone call that turned her life upside down.
Police officers had arrested her solicitor husband Andrew over allegations he was defrauding clients - and were searching the family home the couple shared with their two children.
Andrew's office, in a leafy village to the south of Manchester, also resembled a scene from a TV drama - cloaked in yellow crime tape, staff in shock and records being boxed up.
His legal practice held power of attorney for many elderly people with dementia. But the police discovered that hundreds of thousands of pounds of Andrew's clients' money were missing. Officers later found he had spent the funds on adult webcam sites, sex workers and antiques.
A resulting court case revealed Andrew's impulsive behavior was caused by medication he had been prescribed for Parkinson's disease.
He stole from 13 clients, all predominantly elderly, and his actions had devastating consequences. One victim, an 87-year-old woman, died shortly after the theft.
While the tragic fallout of Andrew's actions left his family ostracized within their community, the case also highlights a broader issue. Many families have been torn apart by bizarre and reckless behaviors resulting from dopamine agonist drugs prescribed for Parkinson's and similar conditions.
The NHS warns that one in six Parkinson's patients on these medications is affected by impulse control disorders, yet many patients report receiving inadequate warnings about these risks.
In the wake of Andrew's fraudulent activities, discussed are the ramifications on his family, particularly his son, Harry, who struggled with mental health issues and tragically took his own life. Meanwhile, as Andrew served time in prison, Frances expressed that her whole life had been dismantled due to the actions stemming from medication-induced impulsivity.
Despite official recommendations for better monitoring and communication surrounding such drugs, many patients continue to face challenges, leaving the chaos of inappropriate behaviors to severely disrupt their family lives.
The need for reform and improved communication has never been more apparent as families continue to suffer from the collateral damage of prescribed medications.
