A popular social media influencer is being investigated after her daughter died. The college student, Paloma Shemirani, refused chemotherapy and later died from complications related to her cancer, according to English news reports.
Paloma, 23, died five days after suffering a heart attack last July. Her mother, Kate Shemirani, has claimed that mistakes by first responders contributed to her daughter’s death. However, doctors told an inquiry that Paloma likely died because a large, untreated tumor in her chest was blocking her airways.
Paloma’s twin brother, Gabriel, and younger brother, Sebastian, have blamed their mother for her death. They told the BBC in June that Kate’s conspiracy theories about chemotherapy scared Paloma into refusing treatment.
“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,” Gabriel said.
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The brothers said their parents, Kate and Dr. Faramarz Shemirani, have long been interested in conspiracy theories and listened to podcasts making extreme claims about 9/11, Sandy Hook, and COVID-19. Kate, a former nurse, was fired for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and later became popular online by promoting false medical claims.
In 2023, Paloma was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She reportedly refused chemotherapy and instead tried “alternative” treatments, including special diets and juicing.
Dr. Peter Anderson, who treated Paloma at Royal Sussex County Hospital after her heart attack, said the tumor in her chest, which grew into her neck, was restricting her airways and could have caused the heart attack.
During the inquiry, Kate denied responsibility for her daughter refusing chemotherapy. When asked if she had compared chemotherapy to “pumping mustard gas” into someone’s veins, Kate called the question “slanderous.”
“It doesn’t matter what my view was,” Kate said, pointing out Paloma was an adult. “It was what Paloma wanted to do.”
However, reports show that Kate tried to influence Paloma’s decision. Text messages to Paloma’s boyfriend instructed him not to let Paloma agree to chemotherapy. Kate also introduced Paloma to Patrick Vickers, an alternative health practitioner, who suggested she rely on a special diet instead of chemo. Paloma reportedly followed this advice.
During the inquiry, a coroner expressed frustration with Kate and Dr. Shemirani for refusing to stay on topic. A paramedic also said Kate interrupted first responders as they tried to care for Paloma after she collapsed.
The inquest into Paloma’s death, which aims to determine exactly what happened, will continue this week.
