8-Year-Old Dies: Parents Chose Prayer Over Treatment
Fourteen members of a small Australian religious sect, known as the Saints, have been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs. Elizabeth, diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes in 2019, died on January 7, 2022, from diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication directly resulting from the denial of necessary insulin treatment.

The Saints, comprising primarily three families, rejected conventional medicine, believing instead in divine healing through prayer. Their beliefs, rooted in a self-described Christian faith incorporating elements like speaking in tongues, led them to withhold insulin from Elizabeth for nearly a week. The court heard that despite her deteriorating condition, marked by vomiting, lethargy, and incontinence, the group continued to pray and sing, believing God would intervene. Elizabeth’s father, Jason Struhs, a member of the sect, testified that he believed his daughter’s diabetes had been miraculously healed, ceasing insulin treatment after a seemingly successful period. This belief was reinforced by the group, who praised the perceived “miracle.”

The trial revealed a tragic sequence of events. Elizabeth’s last dose of slow-acting insulin was administered on January 2nd. Her seemingly normal glucose levels the following morning solidified the group’s belief in divine intervention, leading to the cessation of all treatment. As her condition worsened, the sect’s response remained focused on prayer, with the spiritual leader, Brendan Stevens, repeatedly assuring the parents that “God shall prevail.” Even as Elizabeth’s breathing became labored, the group continued to sing and pray, hoping for a resurrection. Emergency services were only called 36 hours after her death.

Justice Martin Burns, while acknowledging the group’s loving care in other aspects, ruled that their unwavering faith deprived Elizabeth of the essential medical treatment that would have saved her life. Although initially charged with murder, the parents and Stevens were found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter due to insufficient evidence that they knowingly risked Elizabeth’s death. The court heard emotional testimony from Elizabeth’s older sister, Jayde Struhs, who expressed her grief and disappointment with the system’s failure to protect her sibling. All fourteen convicted members are scheduled for sentencing on February 11th.

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