Did the nurses mistreatment cause my daughter’s disability?
DEAR DEIDRE: After reading about the Lucy Letby baby serial killer case, I’m worried that my daughter’s disability might have been caused by a nurse’s mistreatment in hospital.
She was born prematurely at 29 weeks and has now been diagnosed with severe autism at the age of seven. I’m her 46-year-old dad.
She was in hospital for two months after she was born, the first few weeks in intensive care. I hated leaving her in the neonatal unit every night, with nurses who I didn’t know or trust.
Some of them were lovely, but others were brusque and cold, and the news about Letby sent a chill through me.
I worry that one of them did something to her to cause her autism, but my wife says I’m being paranoid and that all the nurses were kind and professional.
But we have another child who is bright and has no problems, and I don’t understand why my daughter has so many issues.
How can I get over my nagging doubts and prove the hospital wasn’t at fault?
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DEIDRE SAYS: With child health issues, it’s natural to want to find an explanation or someone to blame.
Nobody knows the cause of autism, but it often runs in families and is thought to have a genetic component.
Being born prematurely can also cause disabilities in children.
It’s highly unlikely that anyone at the hospital is to blame. The Lucy Letby case got so much publicity because it was so shocking.
Contact the National Autistic Society (autism. org.uk) for reassurance and to find out more, as they will understand your concerns.
And talk to your GP too.