Floreat parents accused of starving ballerina daughter cited sick cat in resisting emergency hospital stay

The Floreat parents accused of starving their teenage daughter with an organic vegan diet resisted her emergency hospital admission, saying they had a sick cat at home that needed to be looked after. The couple brought the emaciated girl to Perth Children’s Hospital in April 2021 after being warned that she may be taken into the care of the Department of Communities if they failed to do so. Denise McNab, a social worker within the hospital’s child protection unit, told the District Court on Friday that when she met the family upon arrival, the father sharply “informed” her that the 16-year-old was not being admitted. That was despite him holding a medical certificate from a GP the department had insisted the girl see that stated, “expectant admission”, while the mother “became teary”, Ms McNab said. Told the teen would be fed via nasogastric tube, the mother angrily and “immediately” said that would not be happening, adding the girl could feed herself, Ms McNab testified, reading from hospital notes. The mum then said the family had a sick cat at home that needed to be cared for, and Ms McNab said both parents “appeared heightened at this stage”. The mother said their only child’s mental health would deteriorate in hospital, and when the social worker advised that psychologists were there to help, the teen remarked that was her aunt’s job, “and she laughs at us”. Being brought to the ward, the girl saw a patient with a nasogastric tube and reported feeling sick, saying it was “triggering” as they had been to veterinary clinics the week prior when their other cat died. Ms McNab said the parents initially rejected various tests, including an echocardiogram, also labelling it “triggering” due to the 22-year-old feline’s passing. They were told the girl should cease exercise immediately — remaining in bed or in a wheelchair at all times — because she would remain at risk of cardiac arrest for up to three weeks after admission. Ms McNab said they were also warned she risked refeeding syndrome, which occurs when someone malnourished recommences eating and can have dire symptoms. But the father dismissed those concerns as laughable, saying he’d done his own research, and the girl was later seen doing ballet moves in her room. Refusing a bone density scan, the mother asked whether her daughter’s sexual organs would be irradiated and wanted information on how much radiation she would be exposed to “in writing”. Initial blood tests could not be completed when the mother became abusive towards staff. So the next day, the parents, who along with their daughter cannot be identified, were called to a meeting with hospital and department staff. They were told their child needed to stay in hospital for one month to put on 1.5kg a week and get to a minimum safe weight of 40kg — from 28.1kg. But the parents disagreed. They were then informed the girl was now under the provisional protection and care of the department. When asked about her impression of the patient, Ms McNab said her clothing was like those worn by 6–10-year-olds, and her parents “spoke for her”. She watched entertainment aimed at children as young as 18 months, including Play School, Pingu, Teletubbies, and Bananas in Pyjamas, sat on her mother’s lap, and held her hand. Ms McNab described their interactions as “inconsistent” with how she had seen other 16-year-olds behave with their mother. If one “didn’t assist with something”, nor would the other. If one became upset, so would the other. “They were one person almost,” Ms McNab said. Again reading from the notes, she said the girl — who turned 17 during her 50-day stay — had told staff she liked to sleep in the same bed as her mother. Other notes mentioned the mother accompanying the teen to the toilet and holding a tissue while she blew her nose, and the parents being overheard saying the feeding tube was “making her become a junkie”. The trial is running well behind schedule after the mother became ill mid-way through Tuesday, running out of court to vomit. The trial did not sit on Wednesday; it sat for a little over an hour on Thursday when the woman’s illness required her to view proceedings via videolink from another room in the court building. The jury has been told their days will be longer than usual next week in a bid to catch up. If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@butterfly.org.au