Woman’s Death Linked to Mother’s Opposition to Chemotherapy
LONDON – A coroner has concluded that failures in medical care contributed to the death of 24-year-old Paloma Shemirani, but her brothers have publicly blamed their mother’s staunch anti-chemotherapy beliefs for preventing their sister from receiving potentially life-saving treatment. The inquest, concluded today, highlighted a deeply dysfunctional family dynamic and raised questions about the extent to which parental beliefs can impact a young adult’s healthcare decisions.
Paloma Shemirani died in November 2022 after a battle with leukemia. While the coroner acknowledged a breach in duty of care by healthcare professionals, the brothers, Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani, expressed outrage that the death was not classified as unlawful killing. The case underscores the complex ethical and legal challenges arising when a patient’s wishes align with a parent’s strong, choice medical views, even as those views potentially jeopardize their health.
Gabriel Shemirani directly accused his mother of responsibility for Paloma’s death, stating, “I blame my mother entirely for my sister’s death,” and alleging she had been “obstructing” Paloma from accessing necessary medical intervention. The inquest revealed that Paloma had initially been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and underwent a period of remission following initial chemotherapy. Though, when the leukemia returned, her mother reportedly strongly opposed further chemotherapy, influencing Paloma’s decision to pursue alternative treatments.
The coroner noted the “striking” level of dysfunction within the Shemirani family, observing that it had been “on display vrey publicly” throughout the proceedings. She stated, “The dynamics within the immediate family were elaborate and dysfunctional at the time of paloma’s death.” The inquest heard evidence suggesting a strained relationship between Paloma and her mother, and a pattern of interference in her medical care.
Following the conclusion of the inquest, Gabriel and Sebastian Shemirani stated the state had “failed” by not recognizing their sister’s death as an unlawful killing, despite acknowledging a breach in their mother’s duty of care.The family is now considering their next steps, while the case is likely to fuel debate surrounding patient autonomy, parental influence, and the role of alternative medicine in serious illness.
