PANICKED alerts went out in April after four-year-old Chase Walker-Steven was taken from Lady Cilento Hospital in Brisbane by his parents.

Soon afterward, authorities located the family and removed wheelchair-bound Chase from his parents’ care – a move which has sparked protests from the Coast to Newcastle.

Last week, two groups of protesters gathered in Maroochydore to demand the disabled boy’s return to his family.

One protest organiser, Suzi Scrimshaw, said she had experienced a similar situation with her son, who also had cerebral palsy, and understood what Chase’s family was likely feeling.

“If (the hospital staff and government authorities) are the professionals they pretend they are, they should be helping his parents be a part of his treatment,” she said.

“His parents don’t know where he is, who he’s with or what treatment he’s getting.

“It’s just wrong.”

Another protest attendee Virgina Zatschler said she wanted to show support for parents Cini Walker and Marc Alexander Steven, who have said previously they took their son out of hospital because they believed his medication and diet were worsening his condition.

“This is about freedom of choice,” she said.

“We just want him home, because who knows a child better than their own parents?

“I want to see the law changed, I want to see Chase home with his family and I want people to stop judging.”

Though Ms Walker has publicly proclaimed her support for medicinal marijuana over conventional medications and vaccines, Ms Zatschler said the protest was not intended to push any agenda other than to demand the boy’s return.

A spokesperson from the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services said when children are removed from their parents’ care, it is because they have been assessed as in need of protection.   

A child assessed as in need of protection is a child who a) has suffered significant harm, is suffering significant harm, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering significant harm; and b) does not have a parent able and willing to protect the child from harm,” they said. 

But protest marcher Allona Lahn disputed that claim. 

“Who is making the decision that the child is in danger?,” she said