Alternative Healer Convicted of Manslaughter in Diabetes Case
- Hongchi Xiao, a therapist, has been convicted of manslaughter after the death of 71-year-old Danielle Car-Gomm during a slapping therapy workshop in Wiltshire.
- Car-Gomm died only four days into the workshop, raising serious concerns about the safety of such therapeutic practices.
- This tragic incident highlights the need for stricter regulations in alternative therapy practices.
An alternative healer, Hongchi Xiao, 61, has been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter following the death of 71-year-old Danielle Carr-Gomm during one of his workshops in Wiltshire. The jury at Winchester Crown Court learned that Carr-Gomm, who suffered from Type 1 diabetes, had ceased taking her insulin while attending a retreat where Xiao promoted slapping therapy as a supposed cure for her condition. This decision ultimately led to her death from complications related to diabetes in 2016. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson highlighted that Carr-Gomm had announced her decision to stop insulin on the first day of the workshop, a move that Xiao reportedly congratulated. As the workshop progressed, she began to fast and soon experienced severe health issues, including extreme fatigue and pain. The prosecution argued that Xiao, due to his influential position, had a duty of care towards Carr-Gomm, which he failed to uphold, especially given his prior knowledge of the dangers associated with diabetics discontinuing insulin. The court also heard about a previous incident in 2015, where a six-year-old boy died at one of Xiao's workshops in Sydney after his parents followed similar advice. Despite this, Xiao maintained his innocence, claiming he did not persuade the boy's parents to stop medication. Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker emphasized that Xiao's lack of action in response to Carr-Gomm's deteriorating condition was a significant factor in the tragic outcome, reflecting a disregard for the risks involved. Walker further criticized Xiao's not guilty plea, suggesting it demonstrated a lack of remorse for Carr-Gomm's death, complicating the grieving process for her family.