LONDON (AP) — A 61-year-old alternative healer, Hongchi Xiao, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter of a 71-year-old woman, Danielle Carr-Gomm. Carr-Gomm, who had diabetes, died after she stopped taking her insulin during one of Xiao’s workshops in October 2016, where he advocated a controversial method called “slapping therapy.”
Xiao, who resides in Cloudbreak, California, promoted a practice known as paida lajin therapy, encouraging participants to slap themselves repeatedly to allegedly eliminate “poisonous waste” from their bodies. While this technique is linked to traditional Chinese medicine, it has faced criticism for lacking scientific support, often leaving patients with severe bruising or worse injuries.
Following the incident involving Carr-Gomm, it was revealed that she was one of two patients who died after attending Xiao’s workshops. Justice Robert Bright, during sentencing at Winchester Crown Court, stated, “I consider you dangerous even though you do not share the characteristics of most other dangerous offenders.” The judge highlighted that Xiao was fully aware of Carr-Gomm’s decision to stop her insulin and even supported it, indicating a significant disregard for her well-being.
On the fourth day of the workshop, Carr-Gomm was in severe distress, showing signs of a critical health crisis. Despite pleas from a fellow participant, who wanted to call for medical assistance, Carr-Gomm’s condition was misinterpreted by those following Xiao’s alternative treatments as simply a “healing crisis.” By the evening, she was incapacitated, crying out in pain and unresponsive.
Xiao previously faced legal consequences in Australia, where he was convicted of manslaughter after the death of a 6-year-old boy whose parents also discontinued his insulin following one of Xiao’s sessions in Sydney.
Matthew Carr-Gomm, Danielle’s son, shared that his mother had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999 and was eager to find a treatment that avoided needles. This desperation led her to explore alternative therapies, including a previous workshop conducted by Xiao in Bulgaria, where she also fell seriously ill after ceasing her medication.
Despite her deteriorating health at the workshop, Danielle had recorded a video praising Xiao, referring to him as a “messenger sent by God” and believing that he was leading a revolution in self-healing and challenging the conventional healthcare system.
After the trial, it was noted that Xiao made only a “token effort” to persuade Carr-Gomm to resume her insulin intake when it became apparent she was in danger. Throughout the legal proceedings, he showed no remorse and continued to promote the paida lajin technique even while incarcerated.
