A Cup of Coffee, A Cup of Gratitude

A Cup of Coffee, A Cup of Gratitude Dr Rajith R., Coimbatore One of the most beautiful moments during home visits is something that can never be documented in a patient record—the inevitable cup of coffee waiting for us. We receive the same invitation in almost every home: “Doctor, please have a cup of coffee…

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When Words Fall Silent: Communication Beyond Words in Palliative Care

When Words Fall Silent: Communication Beyond Words in Palliative Care Mr Anshid C. I., Chennai “Communication is the key.” Everyone working in palliative care has probably heard this sentence many times. Classes on communication, training sessions, models, and protocols are part of our learning. We are taught how to talk to patients and their families,…

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Some people leave the hospital, Some never leave your heart

Some people leave the hospital, Some never leave your heart Dr Amit Jain, Delhi “मैं उनके सामने कमज़ोर नहीं पड़ सकता…” A few days ago, a 76-year-old gentleman with advanced prostate cancer was admitted to our Palliative and End-of-Life Care Unit. He had been under our care before, but this time, the disease had won…

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When Seeing Was More Than Sight

When Seeing Was More Than Sight A Psycho-Oncology Narrative Ms Alisha Karim, Varanasi How She Got Here The diagnosis came late and came hard. In December 2025, a brain lesion was read as tuberculoma. Anjali started anti-TB treatment. She was on it for months. Then she began coughing up blood. Bronchoscopy. Biopsy. And then the…

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The Courage to Stand Down at the Fractured Bedside

The Courage to Stand Down at the Fractured Bedside Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai “I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh.…

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The Other Side of Medicine — A Reflection on My Journey in Palliative Care

“The Other Side of Medicine” — A Reflection on My Journey in Palliative Care Dr. Vanumu Divya Sai, Hyderabad There are moments in medicine that stay with you—not because of what you treated, but because of what you felt. I was trained, like most of us, to diagnose, to intervene, to cure. Success was measurable.…

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The Quiet Strength of Coming Home: A Lived Experience of Home-Based Palliative Care

The Quiet Strength of Coming Home: A Lived Experience of Home-Based Palliative Care – Mr Hari Shankar Pothugunta, Bengaluru A Mother’s World Mornings in Pushpa’s modest home began with familiar rhythms, the quiet urgency of children getting ready for the day. Priya, her elder daughter, was studying Ayurveda. Kavya, the younger, was in her final…

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The Death of Ivan Ilyich: A Literary Mirror to Palliative Care

The Death of Ivan Ilyich: A Literary Mirror to Palliative Care – Ms Keshav Sharma, New Delhi How a 138-year-old novel remains the most accurate map of dying I have encountered in my clinical practice! In 2026, I sat across from a 52-year-old man dying of pancreatic cancer in a private hospital in a metropolitan…

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Moments That Matter: A Caregiver Animation by BHT–Karunashraya

Moments That Matter: A Caregiver Animation by BHT–Karunashraya – Ms Sangeetha N. Bengaluru In palliative care, compassion extends beyond clinical settings—it lives within homes, in the hands of families caring for their loved ones. Yet, one question continued to surface in our daily work at Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, Bengaluru. What happens when care…

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