An anti-vax conspiracy theorist accused of persuading her cancer-stricken daughter to reject conventional medicine interrupted paramedics who were trying to give her emergency care as she lay dying, an inquest heard.
Cambridge graduate Paloma Shemirani, 23, died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in July last year after declining assistance for non-Hodgkin lymphoma which doctors say was treatable.
Her mother, Kay ‘Kate’ Shemirani – who attracted a large social media following after sharing Covid-19 conspiracy theories – claimed at the inquest that the real responsibility for her daughter’s death lies with medical staff who ‘administered drugs without her consent’ and was given an ‘overdose’ by the 999 crew who attended her.
However, the first paramedic on the scene told the inquest at Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court Mrs Shemirani ‘presented a challenge’ to the ambulance crew who were trying to save Paloma’s life.
Robin Bass, of the South-East Coast Ambulance Service, said: ‘The patient’s mother presented a challenge.
‘She kept interrupting while the crew were carrying out care.’
Mr Bass, an experienced paramedic for the South-East Coast Ambulance Service, told how Mrs Shemirani told him that Paloma had a ‘lymphoma’ or growth in her chest but denied that she was suffering from cancer.
He said: ‘The patient’s mother reported that the patient had been discharged from hospital and was not receiving active treatment and was receiving alternative treatment.
Cambridge graduate Paloma Shemirani, 23, died at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in July last year after declining assistance for non-Hodgkin lymphoma which doctors say was treatable
Her mother, Kay ‘Kate’ Shemirani claims the real responsibility for her daughter’s death lies with medical staff who ‘administered drugs without her consent’ and was given an ‘overdose’ by the 999 crew who attended her
The first paramedic on the scene told the inquest at Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court Mrs Shemirani ‘presented a challenge’ to the ambulance crew who were trying to save Paloma’s life
‘When I stated to the ambulance crew that this could be cancer, the mother said it was not and that it was a recent event.
‘She was focused on the choking from food.
‘I gave reassurance that the patient was being given the best possible care.’
Mr Bass told the inquest that following the incident he had completed a safeguarding report due to Mrs Shemirani
He told the court: ‘There was concern over refusal of treatment and possible influence of the patient’s mother.’
During almost two hours of ferocious, and at times bad tempered, cross questioning from Mrs Shemirani the wrong-sized medical equipment to administer emergency care to ‘slim’ Paloma.
A second paramedic, Karen Clark, told the inquest that she administered three doses of adrenaline to Paloma who did not have a pulse or a heartbeat, despite frantic medical attention.
However, Mrs Shemirani accused her of killing her daughter with an overdose of the powerful revival drug.
She asked Karen Clark: ‘Are you aware that adrenaline can kill?’
Miss Clark replied: ‘I did not overdose the patient.
‘At no point did Paloma have a pulse or a heartbeat.
‘If a patient is in cardiac arrest, it’s not possible for me to kill them.’
Kate Shemirani claimed that her daughter Paloma was killed by an overdose of adrenaline and that medical services had conspired to cover up their involvement in her death.
She also challenged South-East Coast Ambulance paramedic Daniel Cody about a report he wrote that initially reported that Paloma had been given four doses of adrenaline by the 999 crews – in contravention with good practice.
Paloma Shemirani was talked out of accepting treatment by her mother, her brothers and former boyfriend say
Previously the inquest has heard from Paloma’s twin brother Gabriel (pictured) who claimed that his sister had died because their mother had ‘obstructed’ her from receiving cancer treatment
During almost two hours of ferocious and at times bad tempered cross questioning from Mrs Shemirani the wrong-sized medical equipment to administer emergency care to ‘slim’ Paloma
Paramedic Daniel Cody told the court that he had made an ‘error’ in this report and that his colleagues had not given the patient a fourth dose of adrenaline, but that a different drug had been administered by the Helicopter Emergency Service Medical Service [HEMS] team. A fourth dose of adrenaline was given later by the HEMS team.
In an emotional outburst Mrs Shemirani told the court: ‘If one could be a conspiracy theorist, I could say there has been a big conspiracy cover up.
‘That would be my opinion.’
The inquest also heard from Dr David Bentley who was also scrambled to Uckfield to help treat Paloma after she collapsed at home while eating.
Dr Bentley told the court that he believed that the 23-year-old suffered breathing difficulties due to a cancer tumour blocking her airway.
He said: ‘I suspected that her breathing difficulty was caused by the tumour.’
Dr Bentley was questioned intensively by Mrs Shemirani about his use of adrenaline to resuscitate Paloma.
She said: ‘I’m going to ask this question as the mother of my daughter.
‘In all of the [medical] literature, it’s very clear that an overdose of adrenaline causes the symptoms [that Paloma suffered en route to hospital] – pink frothy mucus pouring from her nose and pulmonary oedema.’
Dr Bentley replied: ‘I’m disagreeing that an overdose of adrenaline did cause the incidents in the ambulance.’
Previously the inquest has heard from Paloma’s twin brother Gabriel who claimed that his sister had died because their mother had ‘obstructed’ her from receiving cancer treatment.
He said: ‘I blame my mother entirely for my sister’s death.
‘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.’
Yesterday Gabriel asked each of the paramedics whether his mother’s decision to call a friend before dialling 999 after Paloma had collapsed while eating had affected her chance of survival.
Yesterday Gabriel asked each of the paramedics whether his mother’s decision to call a friend before dialling 999 after Paloma had collapsed while eating had affected her chance of survival
Paloma studied Portuguese and Spanish at the University of Cambridge
Mrs Shemirani, who describes herself as a ‘natural nurse’ to her 80,000 followers on Elon Musk’s X, believes in ‘Gerson therapy’ – a belief that a vegan diet, natural juices, coffee enemas and supplements can cure cancer
Paloma’s brother Gabriel thanked Dr Bentley ‘greatly’ for his efforts trying to save his sister’s life
Both replied that it was impossible to say.
He also thanked each of them for trying to save his sister’s life.
He told each of them: ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your efforts trying to save my sister’s life.’
Paloma’s brother Gabriel thanked Dr Bentley ‘greatly’ for his efforts trying to save his sister’s life.
He added: ‘I would like to apologise for the moronic questions put to you by my parents.’
At the time of Paloma’s initial cancer diagnosis in autumn 2023, she was estranged from her mother, but then came under her influence, the inquest has heard.
The inquest was adjourned until 27th August.
Coroner Catherine Wood told the court she is expected to give her findings on the 3rd September.
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’.
