Elizabeth Struhs, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, died due to negligence as her parents, influenced by their religious sect, denied her necessary medical care. The case reflects broader concerns over faith-based medical neglect.
Parents Sentenced to 14 Years for Manslaughter of Diabetic Daughter Denied Medical Care
Parents Sentenced to 14 Years for Manslaughter of Diabetic Daughter Denied Medical Care
In a tragic case highlighting the dangers of extreme religious beliefs, the parents of an eight-year-old girl die after refusing her insulin treatments have been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The parents of Elizabeth Struhs, an eight-year-old girl who died after her insulin treatment was withheld for nearly a week, were sentenced to 14 years in prison for manslaughter. Elizabeth had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019, a condition requiring daily insulin injections for management. However, her parents, Jason and Elizabeth Struhs, belonging to a religious group known as The Saints, rejected medical intervention, believing that faith alone would heal their daughter.
Elizabeth tragically passed away from diabetic ketoacidosis in January 2022 at their home in Toowoomba, Australia. Following their conviction, the judge at the Supreme Court of Queensland also imprisoned the sect's leader, Brendan Stevens, for 13 years, labeling him as "a dangerous, highly manipulative individual." Eleven additional members of the sect received sentences ranging from six to nine years.
Justice Martin Burns, in a detailed verdict, emphasized that although Elizabeth's parents loved her dearly, their unwavering faith in divine intervention ultimately led to her demise. Prosecutors illustrated how Elizabeth suffered greatly in her final days, enduring severe symptoms without receiving any medical attention. The sect members, instead, prayed and sang around her as her health deteriorated, believing she would recover without intervention.
The trial, which lasted several months and featured numerous witnesses, highlighted the tragic consequences of religious extremism, especially in the realm of health care. Elizabeth's sister, Jayde, who distanced herself from the sect at 16 after coming out as gay, spoke of the group's austere beliefs, which included shunning conventional healthcare practices and deeming widely celebrated holidays as pagan traditions.
As non-affiliated with mainstream religious organizations, The Saints count approximately two dozen members among three families, raising urgent questions about the intersections of faith, health care, and the rights of children within such fringe belief systems.
