{
  "id": 2010772,
  "title": "An alternative health treatment killed Hannah’s cousin. Now she’s on a mission to warn others",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/an-alternative-health-treatment-killed-hannahs-cousin-now-shes-on-a",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-19T20:08:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/an-alternative-health-treatment-killed-hannahs-cousin-now-shes-on-a-mission-to-warn-others-286758"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hannah McElhinney's new book, \"Wormhole: My Journey into the Dark Heart of Alternative Medicine,\" recounts the tragic story of her cousin Lauren, who died after undergoing alternative medical treatments in Malaysia. Lauren had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia, and later convinced herself she was suffering from chronic Lyme disease, a disease that is contested in Australia. Despite the lack of evidence for Lyme disease in Malaysia, Lauren and other sufferers struggled to find support from traditional medical systems.\n\nIn her search for answers, McElhinney discovered an online community of people trying to find answers for their Lyme disease symptoms. While seeking answers, McElhinney discovered Lauren's journey, including her visits to Malaysia for alternative treatments, the dangerous practices she experienced, and the eventual death of her cousin. In her book, McElhinney aims to warn others about the dangers of alternative medicine and the need for more research and evidence-based treatments for chronic illnesses.",
  "summary": "Hannah’s cousin died and she didn’t have to. Wormhole investigates the dark world of alternative wellness online – and the comforts and dangers of such communities.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}