Fourteen members of a cult in Toowoomba, Australia, have been convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs. The group, including her parents, believed that “God would heal her” and chose to pray instead of providing necessary insulin, leading to her death from diabetes complications in January 2022.
- Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died from diabetes.
- Family believed in God's healing power.
- Fourteen cult members convicted of manslaughter.
- Insulin withheld during her six-day decline.
- Father defended actions, claiming divine intervention.
- Sentencing for convicted members set for February 11.
Elizabeth Struhs was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes in 2019. In late November 2021, her condition worsened, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe complication from a lack of insulin. Despite her deteriorating health, Elizabeth’s family, who were part of a religious cult, refused to seek medical assistance, relying solely on their belief in divine intervention.
During the six days leading up to her death, the cult members surrounded her bed, singing and praying, convinced that God would heal her. Key details from the case include:
- Her last dose of insulin was administered on January 2, 2022.
- Jason Struhs, her father, claimed that God had healed Elizabeth, leading to the cessation of her insulin treatment.
- Emergency services were called only 36 hours after her death was apparent.
Justice Martic Burns stated that Elizabeth’s death was “inevitable” due to the group’s refusal to provide medical care. The court found that the parents and cult members acted under a misguided belief that prayer could replace medical treatment. This tragic case highlights the dangers of extreme religious beliefs in the context of health care.
The conviction of the cult members serves as a reminder of the importance of balancing faith with medical necessity. Elizabeth Struhs’s case raises critical questions about the intersection of religion and health care, emphasizing the need for responsible decision-making in the face of medical emergencies.
