20 godzin temu
The brother of a woman who died after refusing chemotherapy has told an inquest his conspiracy theorist mother "sacrificed" his sister "for her own principles" by advising her against treatment. Gabriel Shemirani accused his mother of being entirely to blame for his twin sister's death.
Paloma Shemirani, 23, died at Royal Sussex County Hospital on July 24 last year after declining treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Her mother, Kay "Kate" Shemirani, rose to prominence on social media whilst sharing Covid-19 conspiracy theories and was allegedly involved in Paloma's alternative "treatment programme".
Brother blames mother entirely
Gabriel Shemirani told the inquest at Kent and Medway Coroners Court in Maidstone: "I blame my mother entirely for my sister's death" by "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," he said.
Ms Shemirani was struck off as a nurse in 2021, and a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) committee found she had spread Covid-19 misinformation that "put the public at a significant risk of harm". Gabriel Shemirani's parents split in 2014 after a relationship which had involved domestic abuse "both ways", he told the court.
Allegations of childhood abuse
He alleged that he and his siblings "felt unsafe" around their mother and that she had been "emotionally distant" and physically abusive to them as children. He further alleged during his evidence that his father, Doctor Faramarz Shemirani, was also physically abusive to him and his brother.
At the time of Paloma's cancer diagnosis in autumn 2023, she was estranged from her mother, who then advised her against conventional medicine, the court heard. Gabriel Shemirani said: "Paloma had a complicated relationship with our mother, maybe it is because she had a complicated relationship that she decided to rekindle that relationship when she became ill."
High Court intervention attempt
Gabriel Shemirani brought a High Court case to assess his sister's ability to exert her capacity to take medical decisions whilst living with her mother in April 2024. He claimed that when Paloma was first diagnosed, she was considering chemotherapy, before their parents started to pressure her against it.
Her father sent a message to his daughter saying "don't consent to anything from the doctors they try and kill you" and that Ms Shemirani had said "I'm the only one that can help you, don't bite the hand that feeds", the inquest heard. "There was no disagreement from her that this was cancer, she never expressed that to me and she never expressed it to doctors either," said Gabriel Shemirani.
Parents question brother's motives
His parents asked questions as interested persons which alleged that Gabriel Shemirani was influenced and funded by others to bring the High Court case and that his actions were a factor in Paloma's death during his evidence. "My sister didn't die from stress from the court case, my sister died from cancer and I think that's clear," said Gabriel Shemirani.
Before the High Court case, Gabriel Shemirani also referred the situation to social services but he felt they were "slow moving", the court heard. He added that his younger sister had been taken away from their mother when she was 16 and that the case was "only driven by my love and concern for my twin sister".
Heated exchanges in court
Dr Shemirani claimed his son was an "irrational" and "unreliable witness", and that his actions had been a "major contributing" factor to her death. "This is not a public forum to air grievances," Coroner Catherine Wood said.
When his questions concluded, Dr Shemirani said: "Finally may our lord almighty exercise you from the demons that possess you amen." Previously, Dr Ali Ajaz, a forensic psychiatrist, provided an assessment of Paloma during High Court proceedings which read: "I have no concerns that Ms Shemirani has been coerced or unduly influenced by any individual when making a decision about her own medical treatment."
Sister's fear and humour
Gabriel Shemirani asserted that Dr Ajaz's sessions with his sister were "coloured by my mother's control", which the doctor said was speculation. On Wednesday afternoon, Gabriel Shemirani told the court that his sister was terrified of cancer, but used gallows humour as a defence mechanism.
"Are you a psychologist Gabriel?" his mother asked him. "Are you a nurse?" he replied. The inquest continues.
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
