I was part of the panel that reviewed the Lucy Letby case. I believe the trial was fundamentally flawed | Neena Modi
We must face the possibility that a horrific miscarriage of justice occurred, and action must be taken before it causes yet more suffering for those involved
In August 2023, a former neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby, was convicted of the murder of seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and the attempted murder of seven more. Last week, at a press conference in London, the outcomes of a review of the cases by an international panel of 14 experienced clinicians, of which I am one, were released. We identified issues at the level of individuals and teams, and systemic issues within the NHS, but our conclusions were that there was no evidence of malfeasance, and there were highly plausible causes of death or deterioration in each of the cases that either went unrecognised or were managed suboptimally. We provided examples of these likely causes of death or deterioration, and will be providing full details relating all the cases to Lucy Letby’s legal team.
The implications of these diametrically opposed conclusions have left the nation with a deep sense of unease. My anxieties were first raised when I was contacted during the trial by several journalists who asked my opinion on the alleged causes of death. I was then invited by Dr Shoo Lee to join the international panel, and on being formally instructed received full details of all the cases. The story that emerged from reading the medical records and witness statements was hugely concerning, and quite different from that presented in court. That miscarriages of justice occur is a matter of record; think of Sally Clark, Andrew Malkinson, Hillsborough, and the falsely convicted sub-postmasters. Could Letby be another addition to a distressing roll call, and if so, how could this have occurred? Certainly, there appear to have been a series of errors, each following on from the previous one.
Neena Modi is professor of neonatal medicine at Imperial College London
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...Topics
-
In Relationships, Am I the Asshole?
For more than a decade, Reddit’s “Am I the Asshole?” sub has served as a trove of cautionary tales and (very) real relationship advice. WIRED talked to two OPs about what happened after their posts.Wired - 2d -
Josh Sweat on not being the MVP: I should've had it; I could've had it
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named MVP.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Salman Rushdie tells stabbing trial: ‘It occurred to me quite clearly I was dying’
Author says ‘I was screaming because of the pain’ in trial of man accused of trying to kill him. Salman Rushdie took the stand in the trial of the man accused of attempting to kill him at a ...The Guardian - 16h -
‘I am pretty much uninsurable’: My 20-year term life insurance is up, but I was diagnosed with throat cancer. Do I renew it?
“I am pretty much uninsurable.”MarketWatch - 21h -
I know I have made mistakes, says under-fire archbishop
The Archbishop of York says "trust has been broken" as he opens a the Church of England's General Synod.BBC News - 1d -
Wait! The Sims is a lot bleaker than I remember
When EA surprise-dropped a rerelease of The Sims 1 and 2, I was delighted to return to a defining video game of millennial childhoods – but it feels different 25 years later. When I was growing up, ...The Guardian - 1d -
I Do Not Want Revenge for My Father’s Death
My father’s killer is being released to save hostages.The New York Times - 3d -
Sanders if passed at 1: 'Why would I be mad?'
Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders isn't worried about whether he is selected first overall in the NFL draft, saying he's more concerned with landing with a team with the right scheme fit.ESPN - 3d -
Travis Kelce: I owe everything to Andy Reid
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce says no one has meant more to him than head coach Andy Reid.Yahoo Sports - 5d
More from The Guardian
-
Middle East crisis live: fears grow for Israel-Gaza ceasefire after Netanyahu threat
Israel’s prime minister said he would end the ceasefire if Hamas failed to free Israeli hostages by midday on Saturday. Of the many factors that will determine the fate of the fragile ceasefire in ...The Guardian - 17m -
Zelenskyy rejects claim Boris Johnson talked him out of 2022 peace deal
Exclusive: Ukraine president says British PM had nothing to do with decision not to seek deal with Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rubbished claims that Boris Johnson scuppered a possible peace ...The Guardian - 1h -
Trump’s gutting of USAid to face further court challenges – US politics live
Judge who has already temporarily halted plans to pull out almost all agency’s staff will hear further arguments today. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) arrested more than 8,200 ...The Guardian - 14m -
She said no: marriages in China plummet to record low
Rate of marriages in China lowest since record keeping began in 1986, with cost of living and pushback against traditional gender roles contributing factors. Marriages in China plunged 20% to a ...The Guardian - 5h -
Elon Musk appears with Trump and tries to claim ‘Doge’ team is transparent
Key presidential ally, whose agency has operated in secrecy, also makes claim – without evidence – of fraud at USAid. Elon Musk claimed in the Oval Office on Tuesday that his so-called “department ...The Guardian - 10h
More in World
-
Russian rouble surges after release of American teacher
Currency jumps nearly 3% against US dollar on growing hopes of end to Ukraine warFinancial Times - 10m -
Tariffs won’t bring back America’s unipolar moment
Trade is wrongly blamed for the relative decline of the USFinancial Times - 12m -
Trump’s gutting of USAid to face further court challenges – US politics live
Judge who has already temporarily halted plans to pull out almost all agency’s staff will hear further arguments today. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) arrested more than 8,200 ...The Guardian - 14m -
India v England: third men’s one-day cricket international – live
Live updates from the series finale in Ahmedabad Sri Lanka v Australia: first ODI – live | Email Daniel Email! " “I just read that Buttler has won 12 of his last 13 coin tosses,” says Tom ...The Guardian - 14m -
Backlash over ‘spiteful’ move to block small boat refugees from ever claiming British citizenship – UK politics live
Stella Creasy says Home Office decision ‘erects more barriers’ to refugees integrating and contributing to communities in UK. After PMQs there will be an urgent question in the Commons, tabled by ...The Guardian - 16m