The Queensland coronial inquest into the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs continues, following the conviction of 14 members of a religious sect for her manslaughter. The inquest revealed that child safety staff were resolute in their decision to return Elizabeth to her parents, despite concerns raised by her doctors.
Background
In 2019, child safety officials decided it would be "more detrimental" to keep Elizabeth in care after her discharge from the hospital, where she had been treated for diabetic ketoacidosis. At the time, Elizabeth was just six years old. She tragically died at home on January 7, 2022, after her parents withdrew the insulin she needed to survive her type 1 diabetes. Her parents, Jason and Kerrie Struhs, were members of a religious sect known as the Saints, which rejected medical treatment in favor of faith healing.
Key Testimonies
During the inquest, Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard heard from senior doctors at the Queensland Children’s Hospital who had raised alarms about Elizabeth's care. Kerrie Struhs had reportedly told authorities that she did not believe in medicine and had discouraged Jason from seeking medical help, advocating instead for prayer.
