The Lucy Letby case shows the value of whistleblowers

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We must hope that the Lucy Letby case will inspire a more rational, less defensive approach by those in power (PA Wire)

Unlike Andrew Malkinson, Lucy Letby is seen to have been justifiably convicted of her crimes. But some guilt must also be apportioned to the hospital trust which not only ignored the concerns of senior medical staff, but for too long also dismissed the sudden, inexplicable increased death rate in the neonatal unit. It has been reported that consultants faced threats of discipline when they suggested that the police should be involved.

Whistleblowers are regarded with suspicion, and often punished. Powerful organisations have always guarded their reputations at the expense of the vulnerable. Nowadays they are perhaps deserving of a crumb of sympathy because social media can so easily pass off misguided opinions as truth.

But there has to be devised some means of confidentially investigating claims of wrongdoing without prematurely vilifying the whistleblower or the accused. We are all well aware that unlikely people sometimes do dreadful things. We must hope that the Lucy Letby case will inspire a more rational, less defensive approach by those in power in many spheres.