British woman dies of epilepsy after seeking Brazil healing from John of God, inquest finds

An inquest in London heard that Magdalen Merivale, a 37-year-old British woman, died of epilepsy after traveling to Brazil to seek a miracle cure from the faith healer John of God, whose real name is João Teixeira de Faria. The coroner recorded an accidental death, saying the seizure that killed her stemmed from post traumatic epilepsy linked to a childhood brain injury. Merivale had developed epilepsy years after a car crash in 1993 when she was six, and her family had hoped a Brazilian retreat would bring relief.

Merivale and her mother, Pippa, who is also a healer, raised thousands of pounds to fund a trip to Abadiania in 2016, where the healer operated a widely promoted spiritual hospital. In December 2016, Pippa launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise about eight thousand pounds to bring her daughter back to Abadiania for further treatment, and the campaign drew donations from supporters. The family described a belief that Merivale could receive healing through what they called divine intervention. The appeal ultimately raised a little over two thousand pounds, and an update in 2017 thanked donors for what was described as miracles along the way. A photograph circulated online showing Merivale after what her family said was an early stage of the healing process, though the inquest did not detail the family’s private discussions or the long-term impact of the visit.

The inquest heard that Merivale had a long battle with post traumatic epilepsy, with doctors noting that the seizures began years after the accident that damaged her brain. In August 2019 doctors told her she was having two to three seizures a month, and she faced side effects from several anti-seizure medications that led her to stop taking them. In October 2024 she went to an accident and emergency department after a seizure but was discharged after observation and a scan found to be unremarkable. On the morning of November 21, 2024, her mother found her unresponsive at their west London home. London Ambulance Service attended and Merivale was pronounced dead. A post mortem concluded the cause of death was post traumatic epilepsy. Assistant coroner Jean Harkin recorded a verdict of accidental death, noting that the epilepsy likely stemmed from the brain injury sustained decades earlier and that a life threatening status epilepticus episode could have occurred.

Beyond Merivale’s case, the notes situate her story within a broader narrative about John of God, a Brazilian healer who attracted millions of followers and celebrity visitors before his downfall. Faria gained international attention after Oprah Winfrey visited his Abadiania sanctuary in 2010. He was later convicted in Brazil of multiple rapes and sexual abuses and is serving more than 118 years in prison for crimes against hundreds of victims. He has also faced investigations for a range of other alleged offenses. He is a controversial figure whose treatments have been described by critics as unproven and potentially dangerous, including alleged “psychic surgeries” performed without anesthesia. The Netflix documentary about his case highlighted the scale of the misconduct and the experiences of many women who allege abuse. Although he denies the charges, prosecutors say there are dozens of other potential victims and allegations still under investigation.

Merivale’s family’s experience underscores the vulnerability of people seeking relief from chronic conditions through unverified forms of treatment. Epilepsy, a neurological condition with a spectrum of causes and severities, remains a medical condition with treatments that require careful, evidence-based management. The inquest does not connect Merivale’s death to any medical treatment she received abroad but rather to the long-standing brain injury and the resulting epilepsy. Health authorities and patient advocacy groups emphasize that seeking cures from unregulated sources can delay access to proven therapies and risk harm. Medical professionals advise that epilepsy management typically involves a combination of medication, lifestyle adjustments, and, in some cases, advanced therapies, under the supervision of a licensed clinician. The Merivale case adds to broader discussions about patient safety, the regulation of alternative healing practices, and the lasting impact of traumatic brain injury on quality of life.