The parents of an eight-year-old girl who died due to a lack of medical care have been sentenced to 14 years in jail for manslaughter in Queensland, Australia. Elizabeth Struhs, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019, succumbed to complications in January 2022 after her parents, belonging to a religious sect called The Saints, refused to administer necessary insulin. The couple believed that divine intervention would heal her, leading to a fatal decision that resulted in her death from diabetic ketoacidosis.
In a trial that highlighted the dangers of denying medical treatment based on faith, Elizabeth's father, Jason Struhs, and mother, Elizabeth Struhs, were among 14 individuals convicted of manslaughter, including the sect's leader, Brendan Stevens, who received a 13-year sentence. The investigation revealed that the parents had a deep love for their child, yet their adherence to the belief in God's healing overruled the medical advice imparted by professionals.
Justice Martin Burns pointed out in his extensive verdict that while the sect members may have held affection for Elizabeth, their actions and refusal to seek medical attention directly contributed to her tragic death. Testimonies during the trial described the suffering she endured, including severe vomiting and unconsciousness, while the congregation prayed around her, believing she could be revived through faith.
Moreover, Elizabeth's sister, Jayde Struhs, recounts fleeing the sect at 16 after coming out as gay, emphasizing the strict and exclusionary principles that governed their beliefs, which included shunning conventional healthcare and viewing major holidays as ungodly.
The case raises significant concerns about the implications of religious beliefs on health care, as it also underscores the necessity for vigilance and intervention in instances of similar faith-based medical neglect.
