Child safety officer incorrectly assessed Elizabeth Struhs as ‘safe’ day after she was admitted to hospital in coma
Inquest into death of eight-year-old Queensland girl who was denied insulin by her religious parents told her case was complex
A child safety officer incorrectly assessed Elizabeth Struhs as “safe” one day after she arrived at hospital in a coma and nearly died due to the neglect of her parents, a coroner’s court has heard.
She died there on 7 Jan 2022 while her mother, Kerrie, father Jason and other members of their small religious sect prayed for her miraculous healing or resurrection.
The child safety officer was given the duty of investigating Elizabeth’s home after she presented to Toowoomba hospital in a coma suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis on 17 July 2019. He later became her case worker.
But her colleague told the court on Wednesday that Elizabeth should have been recorded as “unsafe” because they didn’t have enough information about her circumstances at the time.
In 2021, both Jason and Kerrie were convicted of not providing the necessaries of life to their daughter as a result of the 2019 incident, and Kerrie jailed.
The doctor said Kerrie continued to not believe in medicine and that it would be unsafe for her daughter to live with her until she changed her views, the inquest heard.
“The team feel that the only way to force mum to see the concerns may be for Elizabeth to be out of home.”
The doctor told the court on Monday that she felt “stonewalled” by the officer after raising concerns about Elizabeth’s safety at home.
On Wednesday, the child safety officer said that the safety plan they adopted for Elizabeth “in hindsight, could have been more robust”.
“I do recall being in two minds about the best outcome for Elizabeth and her siblings specifically Elizabeth being able to remain at home and connected with her family or out of home,” he said in a written statement provided to the court.
The child safety officer said it was significant that Jason had repeatedly committed to provide insulin for his daughter. Elizabeth required daily insulin injections to live.
Dive deeper
- Inquest into death of eight-year-old Queensland girl who was denied insulin by her religious parents told her case was complex
- A child safety officer incorrectly assessed Elizabeth Struhs as “safe” one day after she arrived at hospital in a coma and nearly died due to the neglect of her parents, a coroner’s court has heard.
- She died there on 7 Jan 2022 while her mother, Kerrie, father Jason and other members of their small religious sect prayed for her miraculous healing or resurrection.
- The child safety officer was given the duty of investigating Elizabeth’s home after she presented to Toowoomba hospital in a coma suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis on 17 July 2019. He later became her case worker.
- But her colleague told the court on Wednesday that Elizabeth should have been recorded as “unsafe” because they didn’t have enough information about her circumstances at the time.