Latest news with #antiMedicine
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Cambridge graduate ‘killed by mother's anti-medicine conspiracy theories'
A Cambridge graduate died as a result of the anti-medicine conspiracy theories promoted by her mother, her brothers have claimed. 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 had accepted the treatment. Her brothers blame the anti-medicine views of her mother Kate Shemirani, who was struck off the nursing register in 2021 because of her beliefs, for their sister's death. Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani told the BBC: 'My sister has passed away as a direct consequence of my mum's actions and beliefs and I don't want anyone else to go through the same pain or loss that I have.' Paloma began to have chest pains and breathing difficulties not long after graduating in 2023. On 22 December Paloma 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 per cent chance of recovering from the cancer, which can cause death if left untreated, if she undertook chemotherapy. 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 also an alternative health practitioner. He told Paloma the 80 per cent 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 if her symptoms did not improve after six weeks. Paloma decided to go ahead with Gerson therapy during her hospital stay. 'Paloma's strategy was to appease, to be sweet, to try and win the love that she hadn't been granted earlier,' Sebastian said. Chantelle, a school friend, told the broadcaster: 'I don't think her ideology was strong enough to make those decisions. People have different opinions about these things, but I think her mum played a massive, massive role into it.' Kate Shemirani has not responded directly to the allegations in the BBC Panorama programme. She and her ex-husband, Paloma's father Faramarz Shemirani, wrote to the broadcaster to say they have evidence 'Paloma died as a result of medical interventions given without confirmed diagnosis or lawful consent'. Mr Vickers denies playing a role in Paloma's death, telling the broadcaster its claims 'are legally inaccurate'. 'I haven't come to terms with it at all' 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 sells apricot kernels for their 'potential health benefits' along with nutritional supplements, and offers information and advice on her website. 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 was not told of his sister's death and found out in a phone call with his lawyer. He had begun a legal case before his sister died because he wanted an assessment of whether she was receiving appropriate medical treatment to be carried out. Gabriel had to inform his brother of the news. 'It's like being burnt alive and you feel the searing pain every time it comes out of your mouth,' Gabriel says. Sebastian says he blamed himself. 'I haven't come to terms with that at all,' he says. An inquest into Paloma's death will begin next month.
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Our sister died of cancer because of our mum's conspiracy theories'
Gabriel only learned of his sister's death several days afterwards, in a phone call from their lawyer. He had to break the news to his brother. "It's like being burnt alive and you feel the searing pain every time it comes out of your mouth," Gabriel says. Sebastian says he blamed himself. "I haven't come to terms with that at all," he says. When Ander heard, "I broke," he says. "I was just, like, screaming and crying at the top of my lungs." Paloma had suffered a heart attack caused by her tumour. She was taken to hospital, but after several days, her life support was switched off. An inquest is due to begin next month to establish the circumstances surrounding Paloma's death. Kate Shemirani has promoted a range of unproven theories on social media and fringe political podcasts about how she believes Paloma was murdered by medical staff - and that this was followed by a cover up. The BBC has not seen evidence to support these claims. Paloma's death was devastating for her family and loved ones. But for Sebastian and Gabriel, it is also a warning of the potential consequences for people who believe anti-medicine conspiracy theories like their mother's.
