Mum's anti-chemotherapy views influenced Paloma Shemirani's death

Mum's anti-chemotherapy views influenced Paloma Shemirani's death

The tragic death of 23-year-old Paloma Shemirani from Uckfield in East Sussex has been attributed to the influence of her mother, Kate Shemirani, a notorious conspiracy theorist. Paloma, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, refused chemotherapy and opted for alternative treatments recommended by her mother, ultimately leading to her untimely demise. Coroner Catherine Wood stated that the influence exerted on Paloma played a significant role in her death.

Following her diagnosis in December 2023, Paloma moved in with her mother and began following a regimen that included five coffee enemas per day. In July 2024, she collapsed at home and was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, where she passed away five days later. An osteopath who had seen Paloma on the morning of her collapse expressed astonishment at the extent of her lymphoid mass, a condition he had never encountered in his 43-year career.

According to the coroner, Paloma’s death was a result of the untreated progression of a curable disease. Treatment could have provided an 80% chance of complete recovery, but doubts about consent arose only after Kate Shemirani’s involvement. The coroner emphasized that Paloma’s decision-making was influenced by a mixture of her own beliefs, her parents’, and a family friend’s, all of whom endorsed the alternative treatments she pursued. While the care provided by Mrs. Shemirani was criticized as incomprehensible, it did not amount to unlawful killing, as per Ms. Wood’s findings.

Kate Shemirani, who has a history of anti-vaccination views and mistrust towards conventional medicine, sought to shift blame onto medical professionals for her daughter’s death. However, the inquest concluded that staff at Maidstone Hospital, where Paloma was diagnosed, as well as at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and paramedics, had acted appropriately in their care of the young woman. Despite the efforts of healthcare providers, Paloma’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of misinformation and the consequences of eschewing medically proven treatments

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