Distress to de-stress: A journey – Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai Mrs. Shanti (name changed for confidentiality), a 66-year-old female and a post-treated case of endometrial and ovarian carcinoma recently visited the Medical Oncology OPD with her daughter-in-law, exhibiting despair and mood turbulence. She was referred to the Palliative Care team. We introduced her our…
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Ms Sneha P awarded the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2024’ We are delighted to announce that Ms. Sneha P from Kerala has been awarded the inaugural ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2024’. Ms Sneha has completed her BSc in Nursing from SIMET College of Nursing, Kasargod, Kerala, and is now working with the Government of Kerala’s Health…
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Advancing the Law for Advance Medical Directives – Dr Dhvani Mehta, New Delhi The law is inextricably intertwined in relation to palliative care, especially in India, not always for the good. The law is misunderstood (“withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is euthanasia”), it is misinterpreted (“palliative sedation is illegal”), and it is misdirected (“discharging patients against medical…
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A transformative encounter My story with Sister Bindu – Anu Savio Thelly, Pondicherry In 2010, I crossed paths with Sister Bindu during a seemingly routine hospice visit, a syllabus requirement for my nursing education. That fleeting moment would profoundly impact my journey. I met her in the corridors of Karunashraya. As fellow Malayalis, our connection…
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Newsletter: October 2024 Edition From the President’s Desk Dear Friends, The World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD), is an annual Global Day of Action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care. The WHPCD will be observed this year on Saturday, 12th October, 2024. In honour of WHPCD, the IAPC has launched the initiative…
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IAPC’s Election Notification Notice is hereby given to all members of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), that elections (if any) will be held on Saturday, 1st February, 2025, during IAPCON 2025, for the below mentioned posts: Secretary, IAPC (2026 – 2029) (Secretary Elect from 2025 – 2026; Secretary from 2026 – 2029) Central Council…
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Reflections from a Nurses Diary – Dr Kripa Angeline A and Dr Kingsle Kishore Coumar, Puducherry Our team of palliative care nurses cared for a 34-year-old female patient diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the stomach in 2023. Her journey was particularly complex, given her history as an Operation Theater assistant and her numerous medical challenges: she…
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Severe Mental Illness and Palliative Medicine – Dr Suhana Sulfiker, New Delhi A 50-year-old male, Vijay (name changed) with major depressive disorder had undergone various forms of psychotherapy and several trials of antidepressants and antipsychotic medications. He lives alone as he is separated from his wife. His children are married and live with their respective…
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Chef SM – Ms. Alpa Dharamshi, Bengaluru As a volunteer counselor, I regularly visit Karunashraya (Bangalore Hospice Trust), a hospice where patients often have only weeks, days, or even hours left to live. While one might expect such a place to be filled with despair and sadness, it’s surprisingly peaceful. When you enter the hospice,…
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IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2024: Results from the Step 1 Online Screening Examination We are excited to announce the winners from the Step 1 Online Screening Examination for the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2024’. The finalists from this examination are as follows (names shown in alphabetical order): Ms Deepika, Chhattisgarh Ms Maheshwari, Chhattisgarh Ms…
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