Contact:Elizna Huysamen
- 021 808 3244
Location: Van der Sterr building, 2nd Floor, Room 2048
The conviction of a UK nurse for murdering seven newborn infants has resulted in debate about whether the conviction was safe. In the USA, a nurse has just been arrested because of an unexplained cluster of fractures in newborns. Investigating clusters of deaths, infectious diseases or collapses in healthcare settings pose various statistical challenges for forensic investigations. Standard methods used in epidemiology and public heath are relevant. However, their use is not established within criminal investigations. The statistical recommendations made in a report published in September 2022 by the Statistics and the Law Section of the Royal Statistical Society will be illustrated using actual convictions and miscarriages of justice.
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