Death by Wellness Influencers: Paloma Shemirani

In this episode of "The Present Illness," hosts Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart delve into the tragic story of Paloma Shemirani, a young woman whose life was cut short by misinformation and a lack of standard medical intervention. Despite being diagnosed with a treatable form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Paloma's journey was marred by her mother's influence and a series of misguided decisions that led her away from life-saving treatment. The episode explores the broader implications of medical misinformation, the role of wellness influencers, and the emotional toll on healthcare providers. Join us as we unpack this complex narrative and discuss the urgent need for accurate medical information in today's digital age.

• The dangerous impact of misinformation on medical decisions.
• The emotional burden on healthcare providers navigating misinformation.
• The role of social media in spreading misinformation. (It doesn't have to be this way!)

What's bringing us joy this week?

• Hidden Talent on TikTok

Resources:

BBC Sussex overview of Paloma’s case (Instagram)

Official inquest: Inquest touching the Death of Paloma Shemirani

Cancer Research UK's detailed description of “Gerson therapy”

Anti-vaccine strategy: The narrative around Daisy Hildebrand’s death (the second child to die in the 2025 Texas measles outbreak) was complicated by anti-vaccine influencers like Robert Malone and the Children’s Health Defense (America’s largest anti-vaccine non-profit)

Entrepreneur Media: The Wellness Industry Is Now Richer Than Big Pharma and Sports

Graphic from Nini Munoz showing Big Wellness at $6.3 trillion and the global vaccine market at only in the billions at $78.5 billion.

The Role of Trauma in Mothers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Beliefs and Intentions, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 46, Issue 5, June 2021, Pages 526–535, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab043 (no paywall) - - Key takeaway from this paper: Mothers with a PTSD history showed lower confidence and intent to get COVID-19 vaccines for themselves and their children, largely due to higher institutional distrust, suggesting the need for trauma-informed, trust-building vaccine messaging.

Note: the deceased's father, Dr. Faramarz Shemirani, PhD, MSc, BSc, is not a medical doctor. According to their son, Gabriel, he inspired Kate Shemirani's interest in conspiracy theories.

Thanks for listening to The Present Illness with Drs. Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart!

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