Brother of Paloma Shemirani warns of ‘wild west’ as health misinformation linked to cancer death
Paloma Shemirani died after refusing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The brother of 23-year-old Paloma Shemirani, who died after refusing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has warned that more lives could be at risk due to what he calls the "wild west of health misinformation".
Paloma, a Cambridge graduate, died in July last year after declining conventional cancer treatment. An inquest earlier this month found she “could and should” have survived and had an 80% chance of recovery with chemotherapy. Evidence seen by PA suggests her mother, Kate "Kay" Shemirani – a former nurse struck off for spreading misinformation – led Paloma’s “alternative treatment” based on restrictive diets and coffee enemas.
Paloma’s twin brother, Gabriel Shemirani, said he is “confused” by the coroner’s decision, which stated that his mother did not meet her duty of care but stopped short of an “unlawful killing” finding. He said this will embolden conspiracy theorists and leaves people like his sister without protection.
Gabriel described how he tried multiple avenues to intervene, including the High Court and making information public, but said, “We're just living in this complete wild west of health misinformation, there are no protections whatsoever for people like my sister.”
Paloma’s mother is known for her online persona as “the natural nurse” and a promoter of Gerson therapy, a method involving diet and enemas with no evidence as an effective cancer treatment, according to Cancer Research UK.
Documents provided to the inquest and Sussex Police show Kay Shemirani advising others with cancer through email, with some patients – or their families – seeking treatment for conditions including leukaemia.
The inquest found that Paloma was “adversely influenced” by her parents and other individuals, but the family say existing safeguarding systems do not adequately recognise how coercion and misinformation play a role in health decisions. Her brother Sebastian said current frameworks "don't understand how coercion happens in the mind of the victim".
Gabriel Shemirani has said he may take further legal action, including a possible judicial review, and wants stronger protections for those at risk from health misinformation.
Sussex Police said all information provided had been carefully reviewed and any new evidence would be considered.
The 1939 Cancer Act prohibits advertisements of cancer remedies. Cancer Research UK says there is no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of alternative therapies such as Gerson therapy.