In 2024, Paloma Shemirani, just 23, lost her battle with cancer—an outcome her brothers attribute largely to their mother Kate's anti-medicine conspiracy theories. Once a nurse, Kate gained notoriety during the pandemic for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and subsequently lost her nursing license. Her beliefs, which included a dismissal of conventional medicine in favor of alternative treatments, infiltrated her children’s lives, molding their perceptions from a young age.
The brothers described their upbringing in Sussex, where conspiracy-laden discussions were commonplace and shaped their understanding of reality. Paloma's eventual diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma came with a significant chance of recovery if she underwent chemotherapy, but she was heavily influenced by her mother and other alternative health practitioners to decline the treatment.
After her diagnosis, Paloma’s mental state was vulnerable, prompting her mother to elaborate on her alternative therapies online, further complicating Paloma’s decision-making. Despite pleas from friends and family for her to reconsider the life-saving chemotherapy, Paloma chose to pursue Gerson therapy—an unproven and potentially harmful alternative.
In the wake of Paloma's passing due to complications from the cancer, her brothers have called for accountability, urging social media platforms to combat the spread of medical misinformation. They contend that people like their mother can wield unnecessary power over someone’s life choices and health, especially during times of crisis.
Paloma's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked conspiracy theories and the vital need to prioritize evidence-based medical advice in the face of rising alternative movements. It highlights the importance of being vigilant against harmful rhetoric that jeopardizes the health and safety of vulnerable individuals.
