High profile Queensland woman investigated over claims she was drugging her child
A high profile Australian woman facing explosive claims she was drugging her child has been blocked from receiving money from a fundraiser for her family. A police investigation is now under way.
Police & Courts
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A high profile Queensland woman accused of drugging her infant daughter whose illnesses she laboriously documented on social media has been blocked from accessing any funds raised for her family on an online platform.
The online fundraiser, which attracted more than $62,000 in donations after a series of heartwrenching videos of the unwell child in hospital, was started by another close relative – who subsequently shut it down after becoming aware of the allegations against the mother.
The fundraising platform confirmed it was aware of and looking into the allegations on Tuesday, and that the funds will not be made available to the woman.
Businesses who had previously supported the family’s fundraising efforts had come out in outrage after the investigation into the claims came to light.
The family — which cannot be legally identified due to the age of their children — has been plunged into an investigation involving Queensland Police, Queensland Health and child protective services following a report to police by staff at the hospital where the child was being treated.
It is understood the hospital’s referral to police includes a claim the child was being drugged for her entire admission at the hospital where she was treated.
The Daily Telegraph is not suggesting the allegations are true — only that they were made and are now being investigated.
The father has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the alleged drugging of his child during her hospital admission.
Queensland Police have now issued a statement confirming a criminal investigation unit in the southern part of the state is actively investigating the grim reports.
“Police are aware of reports of child harm against a one-year-old girl,” a QPS spokesman said.
“The Queensland Police Service has taken action to protect the child and commenced an investigation.
“As this is an active investigation it would be inappropriate to provide further comment.”
A spokeswoman for a platform where the family’s supporters once raised money to support them during their child’s hospital stay confirmed they were also aware of the allegations.
“Our Trust and Safety specialists are aware of the accusations and will investigate as part of our standard due diligence process,” she said.
“(This platform) has a zero-tolerance policy for misuse of our platform and cooperates with police investigations.”
A spokesperson for Children’s Health Queensland said the department was unable to comment on an individual patient’s medical history without the family’s permission.
The woman had laboriously documented hospital visits and procedures in a series of posts on various platforms, where she has a substantial following.
She had regularly updated followers on her daughter’s progress.
There had not been any posts more recently since the alleged drugging is understood to have come to the attention of medical professionals.
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