Coroner Highlights Missed Warning Signs in Fatal Child Insulin Denial Case

An ongoing inquest into Elizabeth Struhs's death exposes critical oversights by child safety and correctional authorities.

An inquest into the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has revealed missed opportunities by authorities to investigate her family's religious beliefs before she died from untreated diabetes. Officials failed to recognise coercive control and correctional staff lacked access to past child neglect records. Members of the religious group were previously convicted of manslaughter for withholding her insulin.

• The backgroundElizabeth Struhs died on 7 January 2022 after her father stopped providing insulin for her type 1 diabetes.
• The findingA correctional services officer lacked access to Kerrie Struhs's prior offending history involving child neglect.
• The convictionJason Struhs, Kerrie Struhs, and 11 other sect members were found guilty of manslaughter over the death.