Child safety staff determined to send Elizabeth Struhs home with parents despite doctors’ concerns, inquest hears
Queensland coronial inquest into death of eight-year-old girl continues after 14 members of religious sect were convicted of her manslaughter Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast It was impossible to change the mind of child safety staff after they had decided to send Elizabeth Struhs home with her parents despite some of her doctors’ concerns, a police officer has told a…
A police officer testified at a Queensland coronial inquest that child safety staff were unwilling to alter their decision to send Elizabeth Struhs, an eight-year-old girl, back to her parents despite some doctors' warnings. In 2019, Elizabeth was hospitalized due to a severe diabetic condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Doctors insisted that her mother, Kerrie Struhs, and father, Jason Struhs, should not live together as Kerrie's refusal to follow medical advice could "sabotage" Elizabeth's long-term treatment.
However, child safety officers decided that it would be "more detrimental" to remove Elizabeth from her parents' care. This stance, according to the officer, was uniform across the department and based on their structured decision-making tools. Despite doctors' warnings, Elizabeth died at home on January 7, 2022, after her parents withdrew the insulin she needed to survive type 1 diabetes.
All 14 adult members of the religious sect the Struhs belonged to were subsequently convicted of her manslaughter.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian Australia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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