A Cambridge graduate’s brothers have claimed she died as a result of the anti-medicine conspiracy theories promoted by her mother, who was struck off the nursing register in 2021 because of her beliefs.
Paloma Shemirani died last year at the age of 23 after refusing chemotherapy, despite having been told by doctors she had a high chance of survival if she accepted the treatment, reports The Telegraph.
Her brothers blame the anti-medicine views of their mother, Kate Shemirani, for their sister’s death.
Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani told the BBC: “Our sister died as a direct consequence of our mother’s actions and beliefs.”
Paloma began having chest pains and breathing difficulties not long after graduating in 2023.
On 22 December, she and her then-boyfriend Ander Harris went to Maidstone Hospital where doctors diagnosed her with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Medics told her she had an 80% chance of recovering from the cancer if she underwent chemotherapy.
However, Kate Shemirani texted Ander to say he should tell his partner to refuse chemotherapy or any treatment, according to the BBC.
Paloma also contacted Patrick Vickers, a former partner of her mother who is an alternative health practitioner.
He told Paloma the 80% chance of survival was “exaggerated”, and encouraged her to instead begin Gerson therapy, which involves a strict vegan diet, along with juices, supplements and coffee enemas.
He said she should consider chemotherapy only if her symptoms did not improve after six weeks.
Kate Shemirani has not responded directly to the allegations in the BBC Panorama programme.
She and Paloma’s father, Faramarz Shemirani, wrote to the broadcaster to say they have evidence that “Paloma died as a result of medical interventions given without confirmed diagnosis or lawful consent”.
Kate Shemirani was an NHS nurse in the 1980s and calls herself “the Natural Nurse” on social media.
She rose to online prominence during the pandemic, where she claimed Covid was a hoax and that vaccines were part of a plan to kill many people.
In some posts she claims treating cancer with chemotherapy is “ill-informed” and akin to pouring mustard gas into people’s veins.
She charges around £70 for an annual membership to her site, while patients – including those with cancer – pay £195 for a consultation and personalised 12-week programme.
Gabriel found out about his sister’s death in a phone call with his lawyer, having launched a legal case before she died because he wanted an assessment of whether she was receiving appropriate medical treatment.
An inquest into Paloma’s death will begin next month.
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