A panel of international experts has raised serious questions about the conviction of Lucy Letby, a former nurse accused of murdering and attempting to kill multiple infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Chaired by Dr. Shoo Lee, the panel scrutinized the cases of 17 babies whom Letby was charged with harming. The experts concluded that there were significant deficiencies in the care provided to these infants, but found no evidence to support the prosecution's claim that Letby intentionally injected air into their bloodstreams.
The panel, comprising 14 experts from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Japan, conducted a thorough review of the medical records and circumstances surrounding each case. Their findings highlighted "numerous problems" in the care of these babies, such as failures to properly perform basic medical procedures, delays in treatment, and misdiagnoses. These issues were compounded by the overworked and understaffed conditions at the neonatal unit where Letby worked.
The Countess of Chester's neonatal unit faced several challenges, as identified by the panel. The facility was burdened with plumbing issues and staffed by an "inadequate number of appropriately trained" clinicians. These systemic problems created an environment where mistakes were more likely to occur, according to the panel's assessment.
"