A California-based alternative healer, Hongchi Xiao, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of a 71-year-old woman with diabetes. The woman, Danielle Carr-Gomm, tragically passed away after discontinuing her insulin during a "slapping therapy" workshop led by Xiao in October 2016.

Xiao, 61, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. He failed to seek medical assistance for Carr-Gomm as her condition deteriorated during the workshop. Carr-Gomm experienced significant distress, including howling in pain and frothing at the mouth, yet Xiao did not intervene.

The controversial "paida lajin" therapy promoted by Xiao involves repeated self-slapping to purportedly rid the body of toxins. While rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the practice lacks scientific backing and has been linked to bruising, bleeding, and in tragic cases like Carr-Gomm's, death.

This is not Xiao's first encounter with the law. He was extradited from Australia, where he had faced a previous manslaughter conviction following the death of a six-year-old boy whose parents stopped his insulin regimen after attending one of Xiao's workshops.

During sentencing at Winchester Crown Court, Justice Robert Bright deemed Xiao dangerous, highlighting his knowledge of Carr-Gomm's decision to stop taking insulin and his explicit support of her choice. The judge criticized Xiao's delayed and insufficient attempts to encourage Carr-Gomm to resume her medication and noted his lack of remorse, as he continued to advocate for paida lajin even while incarcerated.

Carr-Gomm's son, Matthew, explained that his mother, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999, desperately sought alternatives to insulin injections. She had previously attended a workshop led by Xiao in Bulgaria, where she also became severely ill after ceasing her medication. Despite this, she had recorded a testimonial praising Xiao and his methods.

At the English retreat, Xiao commended Carr-Gomm for stopping her insulin. Her health rapidly declined, and despite a chef's desire to call for an ambulance, those present, influenced by Xiao's teachings, misinterpreted Carr-Gomm's worsening state as a "healing crisis" and delayed seeking appropriate medical help.