Reflections on Megan Khung’s case

I started a blog recently. I had planned to write an introductory post sharing why I am writing again and what/how I would like to write.

I did not expect my first post to be on such a heavy topic. But I was struck deeply by the news on the Panel’s report on Megan Khung’s case. (Hence, scratch the idea of a first introductory post; this will be the first one.)

I experienced a range of emotions in response to the report.

First, I felt saddened.

Very much so. With the findings, we relive in graphic detail the story of little Megan, who was subject to abuse and a hostile home environment for a year before she died.

I have a soft spot for underdogs. A lot of my work and personal decisions are driven by the desire to stand up for them, protect them and help them to rise above their challenges. And so, this case pushed all my buttons.

Next, I got angry. 

Sometimes, when the weight of sadness feels too heavy, it can turn into anger. 

How could people do such things to young kids? Why were they not stopped? As I read about the lapses in the system, more questions came up: How did the people in the various agencies miss or misread the signs? Why did their follow ups seem so slow or lacking? Did no one care enough to do something?

And, why did it take an independent Panel to surface all these new details and a more complete picture? Wasn’t there a thorough investigation earlier on? Why does the earlier narrative about the case now seem incomplete and arguably even one-sided?

As my anger swirled, I noticed stories and thoughts developing in me. As I look back now, I realise many of them stem from my own assumptions, biases and pre-existing narratives about the system, and what I liked or not liked about the system. (My bad!)

This morning, I decided to read the Panel’s report. I had some thoughts after reading the executive summary, but I decided to print out and read the entire report. I am glad I did so. I encourage those who feel strongly enough about this case to read the report in its entirety. You can find the report here.

At this point, I am reflective and with some empathy.

First, I appreciate the Panel for their work within such a tight timeframe. The case has stirred a lot of anger and emotions in public, and it is a minefield to step into. The Panel members did a huge act of public service, and I am proud of what they did.

If I have to distill my key takeaways in one line, it is this: This is how difficult it is to operate in complex and ambiguous environments.

In complexity science, there is a distinction between complex and complicated systems.

• In a complicated system, cause and effect are linear and predictable. Doing ‘A’ leads to ‘B’. A lot of our thinking also works this way: If only someone had noticed something, said something, or done something, this terrible outcome wouldn’t have happened. To a large extent, this is probably true. This is why we have structures, systems, processes and protocols. When these are well set up and well adhered to, they generally work. The caveat: They work so long as the assumptions behind those cause and effect relationships hold true.
• In a complex system, cause and effect are not linear and unpredictable. They only seem predictable in hindsight. This is because the parties in a system are not static, but dynamic and always shifting. When one party takes an action, other parties may respond in their own unpredictable ways. In Megan's case, when the agencies made certain moves the mum made her own counter moves. Add to that the moves of the grandmother who was concerned that escalating the situation could estrange an already tense relationship. In a complex system, the chessboard keeps shifting and new data becomes outdated quickly.

So we can see, the job of the folks handling such complex cases is already very challenging. And, from some anecdotes I hear from the ground, the way this issue has blown up and the way the narratives were framed earlier on seems to have created a lot of fear, anxiety, doubts, mistrust and even disheartenment. For those of us who are concerned and looking in, I think we can play our part by not making a situation more complex and powder-keg than it already is.

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This is why I want to write again. This post is not about offering smart takes, insights or solutions, even though in my work I am often asked for them. Instead, the purpose of this post is to seek clarity in myself, and in doing so, I was able to notice my own roller-coaster ride. 

For me, I take a long time to write but I find the process to be clarifying and this is a discipline I wish to build. If I can seek more clarity in myself, then others might understand me better. Perhaps they too might wish to seek more clarity in themselves. 

This is why I gave my blog its name. I invite you to join me on my journey and musings, and I welcome your thoughts too!