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The Independent
30-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Osteopath treating woman who refused chemo advised medical help, inquest hears
An osteopath who treated a young woman who refused cancer treatment knew he 'was not the right person to be helping her' and was 'horrified' to hear of her death, an inquest heard. Cambridge graduate Paloma Shemirani, 23, died at Royal Sussex County Hospital on July 24 2024, after declining the treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Her mother, Kay 'Kate' Shemirani, who rose to prominence on social media while sharing Covid-19 conspiracy theories, was involved in her daughter's alternative 'treatment programme'. On Wednesday, osteopath Nick Gosset who saw Paloma on July 19 2024, the day that she collapsed and was taken to hospital by air ambulance, advised her to seek further medical support, the inquest at Kent and Medway Coroner's Court, in Maidstone, Kent heard. He said that when he inspected her he could feel lumps in her right shoulder going all the way up into her neck, which he identified as lymphoid mass and that he 'had never seen anything like it' in 43 years of practice. Mr Gosset told the court: 'It was obvious to me that I was not the right person to be helping her, normally you see a patient like that you would refer her (to a GP). 'Any referral was refused – when I suggested that the proper avenue of approach was through a normal medical channel she dismissed it. 'I felt I was presented with a young woman – and I'm not an expert in this, my field is biomechanics – a young lady who was in the last stages of a very difficult disease, and she had declined to engage with conventional treatment.' He added that he felt 'aggrieved' that he had been put in that professional position. 'I was left with no good choices and the only choice I felt I had at the time was to offer her the opportunity to return where I might be able to persuade her of the importance of seeking further medical support,' said Mr Gosset. Arunodaya Mohan, a consultant haematologist at Maidstone Hospital, told Paloma in 2023 that she had an 80% chance of recovery if she had chemotherapy, the inquest heard previously. Ms Shemirani told the court that she did not believe the osteopath had that conversation with her daughter, as they were 'very close' and Paloma did not tell her after the session. When asked how he felt when he was told of Paloma's death he said: 'I think I was horrified,' before clarifying that he was surprised by the rapidity but not by her death. 'I was well aware that she was extremely ill … I did not feel that she needed immediate medical support,' said Mr Gosset. Yesterday, Paloma's GP told the court that conditions were in place that if Paloma felt any change in her condition, including shortness of breath, she would seek conventional medical attention. Mr Gosset told the coroner that Ms Shemirani was exhibiting those symptoms on the day he saw her. He said: 'May I observe that in the evidence of the GP yesterday that there was a clear understanding made that should Paloma's situation deteriorate and that included any shortness of breath that there would be an immediate response to call the emergency services or present to A&E.' He added that 'she came to me with just such a change in situation' and told Ms Shemirani: 'I have to say that I am deeply aggrieved that you should put me in that professional position.' The inquest continues.
Telegraph
28-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Cambridge graduate who died after refusing chemo ‘was anti-vax'
A University of Cambridge graduate who died after refusing chemotherapy told a court that she was 'anti-vax', an inquest has heard. Paloma Shemirani, 23, died at Royal Sussex County Hospital on July 24 last year after declining the treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Her mother, Kay 'Kate' Shemirani, rose to prominence on social media by sharing Covid conspiracy theories, the inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone, Kent, heard previously. In written statements submitted to the family division of the High Court in spring last year, Paloma said she had declined chemotherapy partly because of her 'background in natural healing', the inquest heard on Monday. The proceedings, which involved the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, focused on the appropriateness of her care. Paloma said she was 'delighted' with her alternative treatment and 'sure' she would 'make a full recovery' if left to continue it, the inquest was told. She also claimed her human rights had been violated by NHS practitioners in the statement, which was read by lawyer Alison Hewitt. It said: 'I am far from being a vulnerable young adult. Apart from becoming independent after I moved to Cambridge for university, I have practised the same principles that I grew up with. 'I have always been extremely health conscious: sticking to all-organic produce, I prepare all my own meals and I absolutely do not drink or cook with tap water. I have never taken drugs, despite pressure to, and I rarely drink alcohol. 'If I became ill, I've always turned to my mum first for advice as she is a trained nurse and qualified nutritionist. Practically fanatical about my health, my close friends know me as a staunch advocate for all proven natural healing.' She also described her mother as 'an extremely forceful advocate for natural health', who was 'misquoted' by people claiming 'those natural solutions are conspiratorial'. Kay Shemirani was struck off as a nurse in 2021, with a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) committee finding she had spread Covid misinformation that 'put the public at a significant risk of harm', the inquest heard previously. Another statement in Paloma's name added 'my friends know me as a staunch advocate of the Gerson therapy' and that she is 'anti-vax'. She said she had been using Gerson therapy as one mode of treatment on the advice of Dr Patrick Villers, her mother's ex-fiancee, and that at 15 years old she spent three weeks in his camp in Mexico where it was practised. Gerson therapy involves a strict organic vegetarian diet and enemas, and has been used in cancer treatment, though Cancer Research UK says that there is no scientific evidence it can be used as a treatment for cancer. Her GP was also monitoring her blood and progress, the former Cambridge student said. She went on to deny having the disease and said: 'I was not diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma... I have never had a shadow on my lung, this is absurd fantasy, no proof.' She described the diagnosis as 'suspected and unconfirmed', and said a 'differential diagnosis' only meant cancer could not be ruled out. Paloma understood that she had a one in five chance of surviving the commonplace R-CHOP treatment that was offered, and feared it would be likely to make her infertile, the inquest heard. 'I do not want to undergo such a harsh treatment that could even kill me when there is a possibility this is not cancer,' she said. The High Court statement alleged multiple violations of human rights in her care, the inquest heard, including Articles three, six and eight, and possibly Articles one, five and 12. 'I am so shocked, as are others assisting me, especially my mother, that this could take place today,' the statement said. 'These were put in place forever to prevent what Dr Mengele did in the Second World War. How could this happen today?', it continued. Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor, performed experiments on his victims in Auschwitz. The patient said symptoms with which she presented in hospital, including a swollen face, excruciating chest pain and being unable to move her arm, had subsided. The inquest continues.
