A coronial inquest into the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has heard testimony that a medical specialist at Queensland Children’s Hospital warned authorities years before her passing that she would not be safe remaining at home with her mother.
Elizabeth, who suffered from type 1 diabetes, died on January 7, 2022, at her family home in Toowoomba, located west of Brisbane. The cause of death was diabetic ketoacidosis, resulting from her parents and other members of a religious group known as the Saints withdrawing her necessary insulin.
Evidence presented during the proceedings indicates that as Elizabeth’s condition deteriorated, her caregivers sat by her side, singing and praying while she died over several days, rather than administering the life-sustaining medication she required.
The inquest follows the conviction of 14 members of the Toowoomba sect, including Elizabeth’s parents, who were found guilty of manslaughter in connection with her death.
How could medical experts be overruled for years? This screams systemic failure and negligent oversight.
It is terrifying to think such a warning was ignored. The system failed this little girl completely.