Kate Shemirani – The Nurse Who Lost Her Daughter to Conspiracy

In July 2024, Paloma Shemirani died at the age of 23. The young woman from Uckfield in East Sussex had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2023 and initially given a favourable prognosis if she underwent chemotherapy. She chose not to proceed with the treatment.

At the inquest that followed, coroner Catherine Wood concluded that Paloma had been “adversely influenced” in her decision to reject chemotherapy, and that the influence of her parents “more than minimally” contributed to her death. Much of the attention centred on Paloma’s mother, Kate Shemirani, a former nurse turned conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine activist.

The case has become a focal point in discussions about medical misinformation, alternative cancer care, and the impact of online conspiracy content on real-world decisions.

Who is Kate Shemirani?

Kate Shemirani is a British former nurse who became known as an anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist. Born in 1965, she worked in nursing before her career ended in regulatory action. Her trajectory from the NHS to online conspiracy content is documented on Wikipedia and in an in-depth Prospect Magazine profile.

In 2021, the Nursing and Midwifery Council struck her off after a fitness-to-practise process found she had spread Covid-19 misinformation that put the public at significant risk of harm. MedicalBrief and other outlets reported on the regulatory proceedings.

Her shift from regulated healthcare professional to conspiracy influencer is part of a wider pattern examined in The rise of anti-vaccine influencers in the UK.

Several patterns stand out in the reporting on this case:

• Kate Shemirani’s transition from NHS nurse to prominent conspiracy influencer illustrates how medical authority can be repurposed to spread misinformation.
• The coroner’s use of “adversely influenced” places significant weight on parental influence in Paloma’s treatment choices.
• The case highlights tensions between parental involvement, alternative medicine, and the protection of vulnerable adults.
• Shemirani’s social media activity promoted anti-vaccine and anti-chemo content that mirrored decisions made in her daughter’s care.
• The BBC podcast “Help! My mum is a conspiracy influencer” provides earlier family context but predates Paloma’s cancer diagnosis.
• Paloma’s brothers publicly linked their mother’s conspiracy beliefs to their sister’s death.

The main facts of the case, as reported by BBC News, The Guardian, Prospect Magazine and RCNI, are summarised below.

What happened to Kate Shemirani’s daughter?

Paloma Shemirani was a 23-year-old from Uckfield in East Sussex when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2023, according to BBC News.

A cancer considered treatable with chemotherapy

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. Paloma was initially given a favourable prognosis with chemotherapy, but she chose not to proceed with that treatment, as reported by AOL and other outlets covering the inquest.

The decision to pursue alternative care

After leaving hospital, Paloma pursued alternative treatments instead. The Independent and other coverage described Kate Shemirani as promoting alternative cancer care, including juices and coffee enemas, and as taking a leading role in her daughter’s treatment decisions.

The coroner’s inquest and conclusion

Coroner Catherine Wood said the influence of Paloma’s parents “more than minimally” contributed to her death and that Paloma had been “adversely influenced” in rejecting chemotherapy. The Guardian reported on the inquest in October 2025.

The coroner did not rule the death as an unlawful killing, according to BBC reporting, even though she found the parental influence significant. A separate BBC report said paramedics trying to help Paloma were reportedly hindered by her mother during the emergency response.

How did Kate Shemirani influence her daughter’s cancer treatment?

The coroner’s conclusion centred on the phrase “adversely influenced”. Catherine Wood found that Paloma’s rejection of chemotherapy was shaped by her parents’ influence, and that this influence “more than minimally” contributed to her death.

What does “adversely influenced” mean in the coroner’s report?

The phrase indicates that Paloma’s decision to refuse chemotherapy was significantly affected by her parents’ views rather than made independently. The RCNI Nursing Standard highlighted the finding as significant for the nursing profession and for wider discussions about medical misinformation.

What role did Kate Shemirani play in Paloma’s care?

According to BBC reporting, Kate Shemirani took a leading role in her daughter’s care after Paloma left hospital. The alternative approach she arranged included juices and coffee enemas, practices that are not established treatments for lymphoma.

How did family members respond?

Paloma’s brothers publicly said they believed their mother’s conspiracy beliefs and anti-medical views contributed to their sister’s death. Their statements were reported by LBC and The Guardian.

What is the BBC podcast “Help! My mum is a conspiracy influencer”?

The podcast episode “Help! My mum is a conspiracy influencer” was released on BBC Sounds on 24 October 2020. It features Kate Shemirani’s son discussing his mother’s conspiracy beliefs and the effect those beliefs had on family life.

The episode predates Paloma’s cancer diagnosis and death, but it documents the same belief system that, according to the coroner, later shaped Paloma’s treatment decisions.

What does the podcast reveal about the family?

The programme focuses on the experience of being the child of a conspiracy theorist. Kate Shemirani’s son describes how his mother’s beliefs affected their relationship and the wider household.

How does the podcast connect to Paloma’s death?

The podcast does not address Paloma’s cancer or death, as it was released years before her diagnosis. However, it provides context on the beliefs and family dynamics that the coroner found relevant to Paloma’s decision to refuse chemotherapy.

How did the Shemirani case unfold over time?

1. 1965 – Kate Shemirani was born.
2. Before 2020 – She worked as a nurse in the NHS.
3. 24 October 2020 – The BBC podcast “Help! My mum is a conspiracy influencer” was released.
4. 2021 – The Nursing and Midwifery Council struck Kate Shemirani off after a fitness-to-practise process over Covid-19 misinformation.
5. Late 2023 – Paloma Shemirani was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
6. 2024 – Paloma left hospital and pursued alternative care arranged by her mother.
7. July 2024 – Paloma Shemirani died at the age of 23.
8. 11 August 2025 – BBC News reported the coroner’s conclusion that Paloma had been “adversely influenced”.
9. 2 October 2025 – The Guardian published further details from the inquest.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear in this case?

Why does this case matter beyond the Shemirani family?

The case sits at the intersection of medical misinformation, parental influence, and the limits of alternative medicine. Kate Shemirani’s background as a nurse gave her a veneer of authority that she has used to promote anti-vaccine and anti-establishment narratives.

The coroner’s use of “adversely influenced” is notable because it places parental responsibility in sharp focus when an adult child refuses life-saving treatment under a parent’s influence. It also raises questions about how online health misinformation reaches vulnerable individuals and families.

The case also intersects with broader debates about online misinformation. Understanding cancer misinformation and its impact examines how false claims can shape treatment choices in other contexts.

Which sources reported on the Shemirani case?

“A high-profile conspiracy theorist whose daughter died from cancer after refusing chemotherapy organised her care when she left hospital.”

— BBC News, 11 August 2025

“A coroner has concluded that Paloma Shemirani, 23, died after refusing chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma after she was ‘adversely influenced’ by her mother.”

— RCNI Nursing Standard

“She rejected science, then her daughter rejected chemotherapy—and died.”

— Prospect Magazine

What is the lasting significance of the Kate Shemirani case?

The death of Paloma Shemirani and the coroner’s finding that she was “adversely influenced” stand as a sobering example of how conspiracy beliefs and misinformation can move from online spaces into deeply personal decisions. The case continues to inform debates about the regulation of health misinformation, the responsibilities of licensed professionals, and the protection of adults making medical choices under family pressure.

Frequently asked questions about the Shemirani case