Newsletter: December 2024 Edition From the President’s Desk Dear Friends, The 32nd Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2025) is almost here and I am thrilled to draw your attention to the following: A final call for abstracts is announced to provide researchers from around the world to present their…
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Medicine Beyond Pills: A dose of humanity – Ms Sneha P, Vallikkunnu, Kerala Until two years ago, my understanding of palliative care was limited to a brief notation in my nursing studies, and as a topic for a potential essay question. Occasionally, I’d see the palliative care vehicle of our panchayat passing by while I…
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What being a ‘caregiver’ taught me: A Doctor’s Perspective – Dr Parul Raina, Bengaluru Being a doctor and caring for patients is one side of the story. But what if you find yourself on the other side? When a ‘Doctor’ Becomes a ‘Caregiver’!! When your loved one is in a critical condition and you are…
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Is it Time to Revise Medical Ethics? – Dr Pratyasa Padhi, Bhubaneswar One afternoon, while visiting the medical oncology ward for palliative care consultations, I encountered a 45-year-old man with a bandage on his right lower limb, sitting on the bed alongside his wife. As I was about to see him, the ward attendant informed…
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Newsletter: November 2024 Edition From the President’s Desk Dear Friends, It is with great respect and admiration that we pay tribute to Dr. Robert Twycross, the visionary Palliative Care Physician who left an indelible mark on our field. Two weeks ago, we shared the news of his passing, and now we take a moment to…
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Call for Proposal: IAPCON 2027 The IAPC is inviting proposals to conduct the 34th Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027). Those interested to organise the conference are requested to submit their expression of interest by emailing the proposal in the requested and prescribed format to the Secretary, IAPC, at…
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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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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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