No charges against religious parents over baby's death

State Coroner of Victoria John Cain investigated the baby's death who found the parents held "strong religious beliefs" and believed their faith would intervene. 

The boy, known as Baby A, was born at home in Hamlyn Heights, Geelong, without medical professionals present, despite his parents initially reaching out to both a midwife and doula earlier in their pregnancy. 

The couple ultimately decided to be "completely led by faith" and chose to have neither present at the birth. 

Despite being born a "healthy plump baby boy" weighing roughly four kilograms, the baby's health declined and in the days leading up to his death he appeared "to be blue in colour", weaker and skinnier, according to the coroner's report.

At midnight on January 17, 2022, the baby's father raised concerns about his son's breathing but the couple thought he would recover and they laid down on the bed together and prayed over him. 

At 3am, the father observed that Baby A "appeared to be fading and was turning purple" and took him to the bathroom where he began CPR. 

Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and his parents, both aged in their 20s, made the decision not to call an ambulance because they had faith he would not die. 

He died soon after.

Mr Cain said this case was a timely reminder for parents who choose to embark on a free birth or home birth without medical assistance or intervention. 

"Whilst I cannot determine that Baby A's death was preventable, there may have been some benefit from specialist maternity or medical support," Mr Cain wrote in his findings. 

"It appears likely that the earlier the medical attention was sought, the higher the likelihood that Baby A would have recovered and survived."

Victoria Police said Geelong detectives prepared a report for the coroner following the death the baby.

"An investigation was conducted and it was determined that no criminality was detected," a spokesperson said.