Medics feared anti-vaxx mother had talked her model daughter out of chemotherapy before her cancer death at 23, inquest hears

Health workers raised concerns an anti-vaxx mother had talked her daughter out of chemotherapy before her death from cancer at the age of 23, an inquest has heard. 

Cambridge graduate and model Paloma Shemirani died last July after refusing medical assistance for her treatable non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.

Paloma was the daughter of Kate Shemirani, a notorious anti-vaxxer who was struck off the UK’s nursing register in 2021 for her extreme anti-medicine views, including discouraging the use of masks and vaccines during Covid.

Despite initially having been given a positive prognosis that she could survive her condition, former Miss Brighton finalist Paloma died just seven months after her diagnosis after refusing help.

An inquest into her death today heard that medics did raise safeguarding concerns that Paloma may be being influenced by her mother after she asked for time to think about chemotherapy.

A nurse specialising in teenage and adult care had arranged to meet Paloma in the following days because of ‘unexpected family circumstances and interference with the treatment’.

However, by the time of the meeting Paloma had self-discharged.

Nurses had also raised concerns about safeguarding after a report mentioned there had been a history of ‘physical abuse’ between Paloma and her mother which had caused the young woman to move out of her family home, the inquest heard. 

Cambridge graduate and model Paloma Shemirani died aged 23 last July after refusing medical assistance for her treatable non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer

Cambridge graduate and model Paloma Shemirani died aged 23 last July after refusing medical assistance for her treatable non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer

Paloma (left) was the daughter of Kate Shemirani (right), a notorious anti-vaxxer who was struck off the UK's nursing register in 2021 for her extreme anti-medicine views

Paloma (left) was the daughter of Kate Shemirani (right), a notorious anti-vaxxer who was struck off the UK’s nursing register in 2021 for her extreme anti-medicine views

However, following Paloma’s diagnosis and Mrs Shemirani visit to see her daughter in hospital the Cambridge grad asked for her mother to be her next of kin once again.

Throughout the inquest, Mrs Shemirani grilled Paloma’s doctor on various matters including whether she consented to be given some medications and why her daughter’s blood work was not released directly to her.

Mrs Shemirani told the coroner’s court that she wanted to take her daughter’s medical records to a ‘global health team’ based across Italy, Iran, Mexico and America.

During her questioning, which took over an hour, Mrs Shemirani referred to herself as an ‘independent and qualified nurse practitioner’ telling the coroner she was ‘qualified’ to discuss medical information.

Yet the coroner, Catherine Wood, spoke up to correct Mrs Shemirani and tell the inquest she was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2021.

After being given an hour and a half to ask Dr Mohan questions Mrs Shermirani was placed on mute on the online court room after she continued to speak after her allotted time.

Her son Gabriel was then given an opportunity to speak where he firstly apologised for his mother’s behaviour.

Paloma’s twin said: ‘I would firstly like to apologise for my mum’s disrespectful conduct.’

He went on to ask Dr Mohan if she had directly seen any cohesive behaviour.

The doctor told the inquest: ‘There was no cohesion that we could prove. There was more than one instance from the mum saying she would use the power of attorney to act on behalf of Paloma and her wanting to see blood results for herself and her wanting to be the next or kin.

Twin brother Gabriel Shemirani (left) and former boyfriend to Paloma Ander Harris (right) attend today's inquest

Twin brother Gabriel Shemirani (left) and former boyfriend to Paloma Ander Harris (right) attend today’s inquest

‘As well as the alleged abuse of physical abuse at home.’

The doctor added that she was concerned that Paloma had changed her mind so soon after going home to consider the treatment plan.

She added: ‘I was quite concerned because at the time in the hospital she had not declined chemotherapy but a few days after being discharged she declined in four or five days’ time. I was quite disappointed with that.

‘Her decision was something I was not expecting that she would completely decline treatment. I thought she would have a think and continue with the treatment.’

Earlier in the inquest, Mrs Shemirani referred to her daughter’s cancer as a ‘purported diagnosis’ as she argued with the coroner about what evidence should be heard at the Kent inquest.

Mrs Shemirani, wearing a lilac dress with white flowers with her blonde hair pinned up in a neat bun, repeatedly interrupted proceedings to make points.

Paloma’s two brothers and her former boyfriend have both gone on record since her death to claim she was coerced by her mother into refusing medical help – something which their mother has denied.

The brother’s first spoke out in a BBC Panorama interview last month where they first revealed the accusations made against their mother. 

Paloma’s twin brother Gabriel and former boyfriend Ander attended in person at Oakwood House in Maidstone.

Today, Paloma’s inquest heard from haematology consultant Dr Mohan who detailed how the young woman was diagnosed and how a treatment plan was created.

The coroner’s court heard that Paloma was first admitted to A&E on October 4 2023 with chest pain, a fever and a lump in the neck.

She was then admitted on December 3 and was put forward for an emergency CT scan the next day.

Paloma, pictured during her time at the University of Cambridge, was talked out of accepting treatment by her mother, her brothers and former boyfriend say

Paloma, pictured during her time at the University of Cambridge, was talked out of accepting treatment by her mother, her brothers and former boyfriend say

After a biopsy was also taken, Paloma was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma with a large mass being found near her sternum.

While the consultant was asked about scans from radiology Mrs Shemirani shouted ‘I’d like to object’ to which the coroner told her she could not object to a witness statement.

Dr Arunodaya Mohen said that as part of a standard treatment plan Paloma was advised to start six cycles of chemotherapy – each lasting 14 days.

Steroids would also be provided, with radiotherapy and stents being considered later down the line.

The doctor said side effects of the treatment, which could have been taken as an inpatient or outpatient, include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, changes to nails and the production of ‘tumour lives’ which can produce toxins and affect chemicals in the body.

Dr Mohen added: ‘Chemotherapy can affect fertility so we offered Paloma full fertility preservation before she went ahead with chemotherapy.

‘We had a discussion regarding on fertility and we discussed a referral to a tertiary centre. And she was happy to go ahead with the fertility preservation and we discussed the pet scan.

‘At that point I don’t think I had any concerns [about her capacity]. We went through the management plan at that time and that’s when we gave her the cure rate of 80 per cent during that conversation.’

At this stage, Paloma’s cancer was considered to be a stage one mass and due to her age and extent of the disease she had a good chance of survival.

Her doctor said: ‘She was very low risk and had an 80 per cent chance of survival which is an excellent cure rate.’

After first meeting with Paloma on December 22nd, Dr Mohan had discussed treatment options and a potential PET scan with Paloma to which she is said to have nodded in agreement.

Yet the next day Paloma appeared to have changed her mind and was exploring ‘unconventional’ treatment options.

The consultant said she had been surprised when Paloma said that she would not be continuing treatment.

Dr Mohan added: ‘It was not expected that she was not going ahead with the treatment.

‘She said she hadn’t made up her mind yet and she might be cancelling her treatment. I can’t remember what treatment that was in favour of but it wasn’t a conventional treatment.

Paloma's mother Kate speaks at an anti-vaxx rally - she has a large online following and is well-known in conspiracy circles

Paloma’s mother Kate speaks at an anti-vaxx rally – she has a large online following and is well-known in conspiracy circles

‘She would not disclose why she was worried about the treatment but I did ask her and my team was worried that she might not undergo treatment.’

Dr Mohan said she had only had one conversation with Paloma’s mother over the phone and had not discussed Mrs Shemirani being Paloma’s power of attorney.

She said Mrs Shemirani had repeated Paloma’s concerns about the side effects of steroids and said ‘she wasn’t happy with the Pet scan’.

Dr Mohan added: ‘I said we would ask Paloma what she wanted and if she decided this treatment I will go in that direction.

‘We thought at the time she had full capacity in what was going on. I didn’t even want to talk to mum as I didn’t think it was helpful.’

It’s understood that Paloma’s father Faramarz also believes in conspiracy theories, but is divorced and living separately to her mother. He did not attend today’s hearing either online or in person.

Gabriel and his brother Sebastian went public last month claiming their sister died because she refused conventional chemotherapy treatment.

The brothers said that doctors gave Paloma an 80 per cent chance of survival but rejected the treatment because of pressure from her mother whom she had been trying to improve her relationship with.

They claimed that Kate, whose real name is Kay, had sought to isolate her only daughter from her family, boyfriend and friends with Paloma even sending messages that she was being ‘abused’ by her mother. Her mother denies this.

Kate, 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 had been following the Gerson therapy plan when she suffered a cardiac arrest while at her mother’s house.

She died a few days later when her life support was switched off at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Ahead of the opening of the inquest today Gabriel and his older brother Sebastian, 26, are calling for the law to be changed to include conspiracy theories as a means of coercive control.

They are calling for the change as they believe despite Paloma being an adult she was not in a position to refuse treatment due to coercion from her parents who both push conspiracy theories.

Speaking ahead of the inquest, Sebastian, who splits his time between Hong Kong and Georgia told The Sunday Times: ‘If someone is rejecting cancer treatment for non-terminal cancer, that is evidence that they are not making the right decisions.’

The brothers are also calling for it to be made illegal that unqualified or unregistered people call themselves ‘doctors or nurses’.

The inquest continues. 

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