Doctor disputes misuse of research in Letby conviction

Dr. Shoo Lee, a well-known Canadian doctor, has found himself at the center of a controversial murder case in the UK. His research from 1989 was cited during the trial of Lucy Letby, a nurse found guilty of killing babies in her care. Letby was sentenced to life in prison in 2023 and 2024 for murdering or attempting to murder 14 infants. The court heard that Letby used strange methods to harm the babies, such as injecting air into them or contaminating their milk. An expert witness for the prosecution used Dr. Lee’s research on a rare complication in newborns called pulmonary vascular air embolism to support the case. This paper suggested air could cause serious harm to babies. However, Dr. Lee argues the expert misinterpreted his work. He stated that the conclusion drawn about the babies' conditions was not supported by his findings. Dr. Lee believes that his research should not have been used in the trial against Letby and feels strongly that the evidence presented was misleading.