The death of a young UK woman from cancer has sparked a bitter public accusation from her brothers, who claim their sister refused life-saving treatment due to their mother’s deep-seated anti-medicine conspiracy theories.
Paloma Shemirani, aged 23, passed away in July 2024, just seven months after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. Despite doctors advising that chemotherapy offered a high chance of recovery – reportedly around 80% – Paloma instead pursued alternative, unproven therapies. Her brothers, Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani, are adamant that their mother’s influence was directly responsible for this tragic decision.
A Mother’s Dangerous Beliefs
Their mother, Kate Shemirani, is a prominent figure in the online conspiracy theory world, styling herself as “the Natural Nurse.” She was struck off the UK nursing register in 2021 for spreading dangerous misinformation, particularly concerning the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines, and conventional medicine. Her online presence grew significantly, and her content, promoting alternative health cures and criticizing established medical practices like chemotherapy, has been viewed millions of times across various platforms.
The brothers claim that exposure to conspiracy theories was part of their upbringing, initially through their father. However, their mother’s views reportedly escalated, especially after her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. Although she underwent surgery, she publicly attributed her recovery to alternative methods like Gerson therapy, a treatment involving a strict diet, juices, nutritional supplements, and coffee enemas, despite there being no scientific evidence it can cure cancer.
Rejecting Conventional Care
When Paloma was diagnosed with cancer, conventional chemotherapy was presented as the standard treatment with a strong prognosis. However, her mother arrived at the hospital, and according to Paloma’s then-boyfriend, sent text messages explicitly instructing him to tell Paloma “NOT TO SIGN [OR] VERBALLY CONSENT TO CHEMO OR ANY TREATMENT.”
Paloma reportedly expressed worries about the potential side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss and fertility issues. She also allegedly sought advice from a former partner of her mother, who reportedly told her the 80% survival rate was “exaggerated.” Ultimately, Paloma decided against chemotherapy, opting instead for Gerson therapy. This regimen, promoted by her mother and the former partner, is deemed a baseless alternative treatment by organizations like Cancer Research UK.
While hospital staff noted “concern regarding parental influence,” they assessed Paloma, a Cambridge graduate, as having the mental capacity to make her own treatment decisions.
Deterioration and Isolation
Following her decision, Paloma reportedly became increasingly isolated from friends and other family members, with her mother becoming her primary caregiver. Friends observed her health visibly deteriorating, noting new lumps and a loss of bodily functions, but felt pressured not to question the alternative treatment. Gabriel Shemirani became so concerned that he initiated legal proceedings seeking a medical assessment for his sister, but she tragically died from a heart attack caused by her tumour before the case could proceed.
The brothers learned of Paloma’s death days later. They have spoken out about their immense pain and self-blame, stating their primary motivation is to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss due to the spread of medical misinformation online. They are calling for social media companies to take stronger action against the promotion of unproven and potentially harmful alternative treatments.
Mother’s Counter-Claims
In the wake of her daughter’s death, Kate Shemirani has publicly maintained her position, denying responsibility and instead claiming, without evidence, that the NHS deliberately killed her daughter through “medical interventions.” She continues to promote conspiracy theories about Paloma’s death online, fundraises for legal fees to challenge the health service, and reportedly sells supplements and offers paid consultations.
An inquest is scheduled to formally determine the circumstances surrounding Paloma Shemirani’s death. Her tragic case stands as a stark and devastating warning about the potential real-world consequences of medical misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating online.
