Case studies

NHS cases, classics and interesting news.

Lucy Letby and the Thirlwall Inquiry AutonomyNon maleficenceJustice Doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital warned managers about a nurse after a run of unexplained baby deaths. Managers were slow to call the police and told the doctors to apologise to her. The public inquiry into what went wrong reported in September 2026. Resident doctor strikes BeneficenceNon maleficenceJustice Doctors in training in England first went on strike over pay in March 2023. By the time they accepted a deal, by 53% to 47%, the argument was as much about a shortage of jobs. Infected blood scandal AutonomyNon maleficenceJustice More than 30,000 NHS patients caught HIV or hepatitis C from their treatment in the 1970s and 1980s. A public inquiry reported in 2024, compensation payments began that December, and no one has been prosecuted. Birthmarks mistaken for bruises BeneficenceNon maleficenceJustice Most Asian and Black babies are born with blue grey birthmarks that can look like bruises. In 2024 a mother in Hampshire was held overnight by police after her son's were taken as a sign of abuse. Edenfield Centre abuse scandal AutonomyNon maleficenceJustice The Edenfield Centre is a secure mental health unit in Manchester whose patients are not free to leave. In 2022 a reporter working there undercover filmed staff mocking and mistreating them. Synnovis NHS cyber attack AutonomyNon maleficenceJustice In June 2024 criminals locked the computer systems of the lab that runs blood tests for two of London's biggest hospital trusts. More than 10,000 appointments were postponed, and a long wait for a blood test result contributed to one patient's death. Martha's Rule and patient safety BeneficenceNon maleficenceJustice Martha Mills died of sepsis at 13 after her parents' worries were not acted on. Every acute hospital in England now has to offer the rule named after her, and it has been used more than 19,000 times. Sudiksha Thirumalesh and mental capacity AutonomyBeneficence She was 19, awake, and wanted to try an experimental treatment abroad. A judge decided she could not make that choice for herself. Ten months after her death, the Court of Appeal said the judge had got it wrong. Indi Gregory and best interests AutonomyBeneficenceNon maleficence Indi was eight months old and had a disease with no cure. Her parents wanted treatment to continue, and a hospital in Rome offered to take her. Judges in England ruled that it was in her best interests to stop.

In preparation

  • Bawa Garba case
  • Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans
  • Francis report and Mid Staffordshire
  • Harold Shipman
  • Archie Battersbee