Man jailed over diabetic woman’s death in UK after ‘slapping therapy’

Hongchi Xiao, a 61-year-old alternative healer, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Winchester Crown Court in the U.K. for gross negligence manslaughter following the death of Danielle Carr-Gomm, a 71-year-old diabetic woman. The case highlights the dangerous consequences of unverified alternative therapies and the responsibility of practitioners to ensure the safety of their clients.

Case Overview
Victim: Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, had Type 1 diabetes since 1998 and sought alternative treatments to manage her condition without insulin.
Therapy: Xiao's "paida lajin" method involved slapping participants as a purported means of curing illnesses.
Incident: Danielle attended Xiao's retreat in Wiltshire, England, in October 2016. She stopped her insulin treatment during the course, leading to severe illness and her death on the fourth day.
Negligence: Prosecutors argued Xiao was grossly negligent, knowing the risks of insulin withdrawal yet encouraging Danielle's actions. He also failed to secure medical help as her condition deteriorated.
Xiao’s Criminal History
Xiao had previously been extradited to Australia, where he faced trial for the manslaughter of a 6-year-old boy in 2015. The boy died after his parents ceased insulin treatment following Xiao’s advice during a similar retreat in Sydney.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The sentence underscores the severe repercussions for practitioners of unregulated alternative therapies:

Accountability: Practitioners must be held responsible for ensuring their methods do not harm clients, particularly when their advice leads to the cessation of life-saving treatments.
Consumer Protection: The case raises awareness about the importance of verifying the efficacy and safety of alternative medical practices.
Legal Precedents: Xiao’s conviction serves as a warning to others in the field about the potential legal consequences of gross negligence.
Public Health Concerns
The tragedy underscores the importance of evidence-based medical care and the dangers of abandoning proven treatments for unverified alternatives. It also highlights the need for regulatory oversight in the alternative healing industry to prevent similar incidents.

Xiao’s sentence is a step toward justice for Danielle Carr-Gomm and a sobering reminder of the responsibility practitioners hold over their clients' well-being.