An alternative therapist is on trial accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Mrs Carr-Gomm, from Lewes, East Sussex.
Danielle Carr-Gomm, a 71-year-old with type 1 diabetes, attended a workshop at Cleeve House in Seend, Wiltshire, led by Hongchi Xiao, an advocate of Paida Lajin therapy.
During the workshop, Ms Carr-Gomm ceased her insulin injections and tragically died from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Hongchi Xiao who is on trial at Winchester Crown Court had a history of promoting this dangerous practice.
Despite previous incidents, including the death of a child in Australia under similar circumstances, Xiao continued to claim that his method could replace conventional medical treatments.
Driven by a ‘fear of needles’
The court heard that Carr-Gomm, driven by a fear of needles and vegetarianism, sought an alternative to insulin.
She first joined Xiao’s workshop in Bulgaria in July 2016, where she temporarily stopped taking insulin and became extremely unwell.
Despite this, she attended another workshop in Wiltshire later that year.
During the Wiltshire workshop, Carr-Gomm stopped taking her insulin and fell seriously ill.
On the second day, she could be heard crying and yelling while lying on her bed. By the third day, she was vomiting, tired, and weak.
By the evening, she was howling in pain and unable to respond to questions. On the fourth day, she was found unresponsive and later died.
The prosecution argued that Xiao, aware of the risks, failed to seek medical help for Carr-Gomm.
They argued that he congratulated her decision to stop insulin, despite knowing it could be fatal.
The court was told that Carr-Gomm’s death was directly linked to her cessation of insulin injections, influenced by Xiao’s teachings.
What is Paida Lajin?
Paida Lajin, also known as slapping therapy, combines two distinct techniques:
- Paida: Patting (“pai” in Chinese) and slapping (“da”) one’s skin.
- Lajin: Adopting various postures to stretch one’s muscles.
Paida and Lajin are rooted in a traditional Chinese medicine concept called “sha.”
Participants vigorously slap various parts of their body until their skin turns red or bruised and may also stretch.
This belief is that blood can be “poisoned” by toxins and needs to be expelled.
Practitioners assert that these methods improve blood circulation and draw out “sha”.
Critics argue that this practice simply results in broken blood vessels and bruising.
Accused ‘learned slapping therapy from kung fu masters’
Xiao, who has no medical qualifications, had been promoting Paida Lajin for ten years and has written a book on the subject.
He claims to have learned the technique from kung fu masters and hermits in China and insists it can combat all diseases by unblocking energy channels in the body.
Despite his claims, Xiao’s methods have not been validated by scientific research, and his stance against conventional medicine, particularly insulin, poses significant dangers.
The trial continues, with Xiao denying the charge of gross negligence manslaughter.
