Diabetic Woman Dies After Evangelist Persuades Her to Stop Insulin Therapy
A 71-year-old diabetic woman, Danielle Carr-Gomm, passed away after a therapeutic evangelist convinced her to cease her insulin treatment, a court heard.
Carr-Gomm, who feared needles, sought alternative treatments for her diabetes. In July 2026, she traveled from East Sussex to Bulgaria after learning about Hongchi Xiao, an evangelist known for his "Paida Lajin" therapy, which involves patting and slapping parts of the body to expel "poisonous waste."
Upon returning from Bulgaria, Carr-Gomm discontinued her insulin, resulting in severe illness. Despite pleas from her loved ones to resume her medication, she refused.
In October 2026, Carr-Gomm attended a retreat in Seend, Wiltshire, hosted by Xiao, who she referred to as a "messenger sent by God." During the event, Xiao promoted his therapy as a replacement for insulin. Carr-Gomm once again stopped taking her insulin, leading to her death on the fourth day of the retreat when Xiao failed to seek medical help.
Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson stated that Xiao was aware of the life-threatening risk Carr-Gomm faced and chose to encourage her to stop her insulin instead of warning her against it. Atkinson also mentioned Xiao's previous manslaughter prosecution after a six-year-old boy died in 2015 under similar circumstances.
Xiao denies the manslaughter charge, claiming he had no influence over Carr-Gomm's decisions and had advised her not to abruptly stop her insulin. The trial continues.
