Mother 'influenced' dying daughter to reject chemo

A University of Cambridge graduate who died after refusing chemotherapy was “adversely influenced” by her mother’s conspiracy theory views, an inquest has concluded.

- HOLLY EVANS

Paloma Shemirani, 23, died at Royal Sussex County Hospital on 24 July 2024, seven months after being diagnosed with nonHodgkin lymphoma.

Her mother, Kay “Kate” Shemirani, rose to prominence on social media by sharing anti-vaccine Covid-19 misinformation, and had been struck off as a nurse in 2021, with a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) committee finding she had spread theories that “put the public at a significant risk of harm”.

The inquest heard that she had raised concerns with medical staff about Paloma’s treatment plan, and had taken a “leading role” in pursuing “alternative treatment” for her daughter.

The hearings at Kent and Medway Coroners Court heard that this treatment had revolved largely around a strict diet, coffee enemas and “lots of green juices”.

Describing Ms Shemirani’s conduct of care towards her daughter as “incomprehensible”, coroner Catherine Wood concluded: “If Paloma had been supported and encouraged to accept her diagnosis, and consider with an open mind chemotherapy, she probably would have followed that course.”

Her mother questioned medical staff to the extent that the coroner found it “highly likely that she seeded some form of doubt in Paloma’s mind as to her diagnosis”.

Paloma’s twin brother, Gabriel Shemirani, said: “I blame my mother entirely for my sister’s death,” on the basis of her “obstructing” his sister from receiving treatment.

“In short, I believe that she sacrificed Paloma’s life for her own principles. I believe that she should be held accountable for Paloma’s death,” said Mr Shemirani.

Arunodaya Mohan, an NHS consultant haematologist at Maidstone Hospital, said that there had been concerns that the nurse-turned-conspiracy-theorist had influenced her daughter’s decision to refuse treatment.