Panorama turns its lens to a distressing intersection of family grief and online misinformation with Cancer Conspiracy Theories: Why Did Our Sister Die?, airing Monday, June 23, 2025, at 8:00 PM GMT on BBC One. The episode explores the tragic story of Paloma Shemirani, who at 23, opted for alternative treatments over chemotherapy, a choice her brothers claim was influenced by their mother, Kate Shemirani, a known conspiracy theorist.
Marianna Spring leads the investigation, gathering accounts from Paloma’s family, friends, and medical experts. The program digs into the circumstances surrounding Paloma’s death, aiming to understand what truly happened regarding her medical care and the advice she received.
This deep dive into the Shemirani case also poses wider questions about the digital landscape. It examines whether social media algorithms play a part in promoting potentially harmful content to those at their most vulnerable. The documentary also assesses the unsettling trend of anti-medicine views gaining mainstream acceptance following the pandemic, casting a critical eye on the spread of such ideas.
