Over the next days we will be reading extensively about the life and crime of Lucy Letby – some will be powerful and insightful, other pieces full of unhelpful speculation and barbed digs looking to place blame.
I haven’t been following the trial as closely as some, but to me this case highlights the dangers of putting people on a pedestal – whether it is sportspeople, rock singers, actors and even people working in the NHS. We see people in the music, acting and sports industry feted all the time, clapped and mobbed wherever they go and their views sought on all topics. Especially with actors, I often wonder why interviewers ask them for their insight on all matter of topics when they are being paid to learn words and act out scenes. I don’t quite get it, do you?
Of course, I appreciated the work of the people working in the NHS during the pandemic carrying out such valuable, life-saving work in the most difficult of circumstances. But I was confused by the weekly clapping of people being paid to do their jobs – however difficult the situation – and didn’t join in with this.
I think there is a danger that putting any group of people on a pedestal means they are untouchable and we have seen numerous examples recently of this such as Saville and Rolf Harris, where many suspected their crimes, but didn’t feel able to report it as they wouldn’t be taken seriously.
Is this pedestal effect at the heart of how Lucy Letby was able to get away with her crimes for so long?
I don’t think that the clapping for the health professionals had the affect of making the workers feel like that had been put on a pedestal, but more that they were appreciated. I say this as a recently retired intensive care nurse.
Lucy Letby, to me, was something like a psychopath or sociopath and was doing evil things long before the clapping started.