An alternative healer who advocated “slapping therapy” to treat a range of maladies has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old diabetic woman who stopped taking insulin during his workshop.

Summary

Alternative healer Hongchi Xiao was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the UK for manslaughter by gross negligence after Danielle Carr-Gomm, a 71-year-old diabetic woman, died during his “slapping therapy” workshop in 2016.

Xiao encouraged Carr-Gomm to stop taking insulin, leading to her severe deterioration and death on the fourth day of the retreat.

Xiao, previously convicted of manslaughter in Australia for a similar death, showed no remorse and continued promoting his unscientific therapy in prison.

The case highlights the dangers of unregulated alternative treatments.